Earlier this year, at the Caribbean Co-operation of the Red Cross’ (CCORC) biennial meeting  in Santo Domingo, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Red Cross was elected to serve on the CCORC Executive in the capacity of Overseas Branch Co-ordinator. This is the first time in the history of the CCORC Executive that they have had representation for the OSB. Mrs Edris O’Neal, director general, BVI Red Cross, is the representative on the Executive and the following is some of her views from the last CCORC Executive meeting which was also held in July.

“It is a privilege for the BVI to have been chosen to serve on the CCORC Executive. It gives us the opportunity to be involved at a new level and it also means that the BVI has the responsibility to relay to the other OSBs the necessary information and to articulate their concerns.

I believe that now the branches can be involved in a more meaningful way in the activities of the CCORC and while as OSBs they cannot be represented on every level, the time will come when consideration might be given to having the OSBs represented at other forums.

I think since the OSBs have representation on the CCORC executive now, their concerns will be articulated, information will be more readily available and the relationship between the OSBs and NS will be strengthened and clarified.