Anguilla Red Cross hosts Long Service Awards ceremony

The Anguilla Branch of the British Red Cross Society hosted a Dinner and Long Service Awards ceremony on Saturday February 28, 2004, in appreciation of those who have contributed to the development of the Anguilla Red Cross over the years.

Two Long Service certificates for Volunteering were awarded to Mrs Vidya Lloyd (posthumously) and Mrs Eliza Romney. Thirteen other certificates of service were also distributed to persons and corporate bodies who had assisted the Anguilla Red Cross in a significant way.

Held at the Rivera, the dinner was held under the patronage of His Excellency Governor Mr Peter Johnstone and Mrs Johnstone and Mr Rodney Rey, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Chief Minister.

Governor Johnstone and Mr Rey delivered messages from their respective offices in keeping with the event’s theme of “Volunteerism.” The feature speaker was Ms Jill Marie St John, Sub-Regional Branch Officer of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, based in the Sub Regional Office in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

In his message, Mr Johnstone indicated that all persons had some manner of con tribution to make, and that with subtle recruitment practices, the Anguilla Red Cross could more effectively tap into the human resources in the country. Mr Rey bemoaned the death of community spirit as an apparently global condition, and urged more Anguillans to heed the call of volunteer service.

Ms St John spoke about the challenges that th e Red Cross Movement faces in terms of the management of its volunteer programme. Recognising that some of the contributing factors were external, she also stated that the Movement needed to do more regarding, it own recruitment, assignment and training policies, if it is to address the sustainable development of the volunteer core.