Pride and joy!

There was joy in Eagle Hall yesterday when long-serving traffic warden Valerie Barnett was announced as one of the winners of the NATION’s Bim’s Best.

The NATION’s Independence month initiative is aimed at finding and celebrating the best in the Barbadian community. Readers nominated people in 14 food and service categories and then voted last week on the best of the best.

Barnett, 47, has been a warden stationed near to Eagle Hall Primary School in St Michael for the past nine years.

“I feel so great to know that I’m doing a good job,” said a near breathless and smiling Barnett when a team from the NATION and Starcom Network’s Road Runner gave her the good news.

News of the honour was met with delight. Parent Leila Alleyne said of Barnett: “It doesn’t matter if it rains, no matter what, she is always here. Sometimes, she would say, ‘Oh my throat doesn’t feel too good’ or ‘I have a cough’, but she is always here. My daughter goes to Deacons [Primary] and this is her warden. We have one down there but this is her warden.” (ALF)