St Maarten Red Cross assists in Grenada relief efforts

When news of the devastation in Grenada reached the community of St. Maarten a pulsing need to do something to help their Caribbean brothers and sisters arose. But there was the uncertainty of how to proceed with these humanitarian efforts.

The St. Maarten Red Cross through consistent updates from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' (Federation) sub - regional office in Trinidad monitored the situation in Grenada .

The St. Maarten Red Cross armed with the information from the Federation's sub - regional office and The St. Maarten Seventh Day Adventist Church in their eagerness to help, met in an emergency meeting. Commander of the St. Maarten Red Cross, Mr. Joseph Charles, attended the meeting and made recommendations to the church members, based on information from the Federation, on how to proceed and what was needed.

This resulted in the decision to first help the people of Grenada and eventually the people of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands . This came with firm support from St. Maarten's Disaster Management Committee.

The St. Maarten Red Cross was also monitoring the situation in Aruba , Bonaire and Curacao and made communications with the Red Cross in these islands assuring them of the Red Cross (St Maarten) support. The Red Cross remained on standby to help those islands as well.

In light of this, using reports out of Grenada as to what the immediate needs were the newly formed disaster relief committee via radio made an appeal to the people of St. Maarten, mentioning that the immediate needs of Grenada were, water, tarpaulins, tents, kitchen utensils, purification tablets and jerry cans.

With less than twelve hours to collect, pack and ship items, the community of St. Maarten arose and came through with an overwhelming show of support.

The items poured in from companies and individuals who reached into their pockets without hesitation, all eager to help in what ever way they could. In an astounding show of sympathy, compassion and humanitarian spirit the items poured in from all over St. Maarten, with an unspoken message attached.

A message that said "I hear the cry of my brothers and sisters, I see your tears, I feel your hurt, I know your need and I am here to comfort, to soothe, to rebuild, to stand in solidarity with and to give strength as it is needed."

To get the items prepared, the brigadiers of the St. Maarten Red Cross came together in their usual spirit of dedication and got the items ready to be shipped. In addition, the Zaggersgut Seventh Day Adventist church interrupted service and congregation members came out to help pack the items in their church clothing.

The items were then shipped from St. Maarten to a holding bay in Barbados by BWIA. After contacting the director general of Barbados Red Cross, Mr Edmund Bradshaw, he arranged for LIAT flight to take the items to Grenada . All of this was done through donations.

The next appeal will come for the people of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands .