ANGUILLA RED CROSS REJUVENATED Makes Awards To 15 Recipients

The Anguilla Red Cross Committee appears to be on a path of rejuvenation to make its presence and service greater felt on the island.

This came out during the Committee’s Awards Dinner at Irad’s Place at Sandy Ground on February 28. The ceremony, chaired by Dana Ruan, included addresses by Governor Peter Johnstone, Permanent Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, Rodney Rey; and President of the Red Cross Committee, Doreen James.

Ms James told the gathering that the Red Cross had been strengthened over a period of time and could only become stronger by the pace at which its leadership and members were now going. “The year 2003 saw tremendous activity in most Red Cross activities such as communications with the British Red Cross, the Regional Sub-office in Trinidad and local authorities closely related to the work of the organisation,” she said. “Training activities increased for members of the organisation and also for persons in the hotels and other local businesses. The public is also more aware now of our existence and, most importantly, we now have a functioning office opened daily from 8.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. by our now full-time volunteer, Mrs. Catherine Hill.”

Ms. James reported that about two weeks ago a new executive body was elected to carry out the management functions of the Anguilla Red Cross for the year as follows: Vice President/Health and Community Officer, retired Nurse Susan Harrigan; Secretary, Ursil Webster; Disaster Response Officer, Ricky Rouphine; Training Officer, Steve McDowell; Youth Officer, Lyndon Hodge; and Re-elected President Doreen James; and Treasurer, Marva Thompson.

She said the Committee’s Health and Community Programme had received a boost this year following a visit by Mike Goodhand, Logistics Officer from the British Red Cross Headquarters in London. He carried out an assessment of the Committee’s capacity to serve the elderly and vulnerable persons in the community. As a result, the Committee will be receiving a minibus on March 9 to assist with the project.

Governor Johnstone commended Ms. James and other executive members of the Red Cross for their work and was pleased to see that the organisation was being rejuvenated. He offered all concerned his best wishes for the further development of the voluntary body.
Permanent Secretary Rodney Rey said that since the rejuvenation of the Red Cross, the Chief Minister’s Office and the organisation had established a close-working relationship. The partnership was in recognition of the critical role that the Red Cross plays in disaster preparedness, mitigation and recovery.

The feature address was delivered by Jill Marie St. John, Sub-regional Branch Officer from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies based in Trinidad and Tobago. She emphasised the need for voluntary work in the community, noting that there was a volunteer crisis not only in the Red Cross but in the world at large.

She was delighted with the progress of work in Anguilla and that there were fifteen awardees recognised for their contribution to, and support for, the Red Cross.

Those awarded included were Eliza Romney and the late Nurse Vida Lloyd. In addition to long service certificates, they have been named for medals from the British Red Cross.
The other certificate awardees were Governor and Mrs. Johnstone, Malcolm Hope-Ross, McMillian Thomas, Trevor Lake, Cable & Wireless, Albert Lake (husband of Dr. Bonnie Lake-Richardson), Till Last Flight Restaurant, Ripples Restaurant, English Rose Restaurant, Cap Juluca Hotel, Carimar Beach Club and the Women’s Group of the Apostolic Faith Church.