Jamaica hosts Caribbean Red Cross leaders' conference

Over 25 leaders from 10 Red Cross societies in the Caribbean were in Jamaica at a Caribbean Conference for Leaders of Red Cross National Societies.

The conference, which was hosted by the Jamaica Red Cross, was held from June 30-July 1 at the RIU Club Hotel in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. It was funded by the Venezuelan and Spanish Red Cross in an effort to strengthen relations between the Latin America and the Caribbean.

There are more than 16 Red Cross Societies in the Caribbean.

At the opening ceremony on June 30, president of the Jamaica Red Cross Dr. Jaslin Salmon, in his welcome remarks, mentioned that the conference is an important opportunity for the National Societies of the Caribbean to come together and share ideas and plan strategies towards a stronger and more effective Caribbean region of the Red Cross.

“I am a Jamaican, but I am a Caribbean person,” he said, “we as Red Cross national societies must see each other as sharing the same space and work together as a unified body to improve our region.”

The framework for the conference allowed participants to discuss where they are at present, where they want to be in the future and how they plan to get there.

In his address to the participants, Dr. Mario Villarroel, President of the Venezuelan Red Cross and guest speaker for the opening ceremony, remarked “we [must] strengthen the Caribbean cooperation and continue working together to improve our capacity to serve those who are more vulnerable…in unity there is strength.”

Also present at the opening ceremony was the Head of the Caribbean Red Cross office in Trinidad, Ms. Tanya Wood who gave greetings; a representative from the Miami Chapter of the American Red Cross and Custos of St. Ann, Honorable Radcliffe Walters who also brought greetings.

The President of the Inter-American Regional Committee (CORI) and the President of the Caribbean Cooperation of the Red Cross (CCORC) were also present.