New Jamaica Red Cross President hopes to expand volunteer base

A new President was elected at the Jamaica Red Cross (JRC) 21st Biennial General Assembly held on Saturday October 28 at the Jamaica Conference Centre, Kingston, Jamaica.

Dr. Jaslin Salmon, one of the immediate past Vice Presidents, will lead the JRC for the next two years. Two new Vice Presidents, Mr. Martin Gooden, former Finance Chairman and Miss Una Dillon, former Youth Chairman, will assist him.

In his acceptance speech, President Salmon spoke of his vision to build a National Society that has greater visibility, an expanded volunteer base and better volunteer management.

He also indicated his intention to build on an idea by the immediate past President, Judge Oswald Burchenson to create a trust fund that will pave the way for the long-term financial independence of the Society.

The new President, while acknowledging that JRC has done well under the previous presidency, promised to continue and improve on every area.

 “I know that already the Jamaica Red Cross is held in high regard in the region and throughout the Movement, but I want to improve on that,” he said. He further stated “I want us to pursue, to achieve and to maintain excellence; excellence in the quality of service we render; excellence in how we treat our external and internal customers; and excellence in how we deport ourselves.”

In her keynote address on the theme “The Spirit of Volunteerism,” United States Ambassador, Her Excellency Mrs. Brenda LaGrange-Johnson, lauded the Red Cross for the excellent work the organization has done.

 “The Jamaica Red Cross has exemplified the best aspects of human nature in dealing with an imperfect world,” she stated.

Greetings were brought by representatives from key partnering agencies. These included the International Federation of Red Cross Sub-Regional Office, Disaster Management Officer, Marylee Ellis; Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, Jesus Silba; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Representative, Juan Carlos Espinola; United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative, Bertrand Bainvel and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Acting Director General, Ronald Jackson.

The Strategic Plan for 2006-2010, the revised Statutes, the Financial Report for the period 2004-2006 and the Budget for 2007 were presented and adopted.

JRC Director General Miss Yvonne Clarke, in her report of activities, highlighted several achievements over the period in the areas of youth development, health and care, disaster management and communication and dissemination of humanitarian principles.

Over two hundred delegates and guests attended the ceremony, which is usually held in September or October every two years.