British Red Cross volunteers and students of Elmore Stoutt High School proudly display their Dunant pins with Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert. Photo: VINO

CEO of British Red Cross Mr Mike Adamson, right, presented the Henry Dunant team award to BVI Red Cross Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr Geoffrey H. Brooks, left. Photo: VINO

Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) gave remarks at the BVI Red Cross Awards Ceremony on January 11, 2018. Photo: VINO

It was the local arm of the international organisation of Red Cross awards ceremony for volunteers who gave of their time and service following hurricanes Irma and Maria, which devastated the territory on September 6 and 18, 2017.

The BVI Red Cross received the highest team award within the Red Cross Movement, the Dunant Award. The Dunant Award is named after Henry Dunant, the Founder of the Red Cross Movement.

Some 50 volunteers were given Dunant pins in recognition of their outstanding humanitarian service exhibited following the two Category 5 hurricanes.

Unpredictable challenge

The British Red Cross, along with the Department for International Government (DFID), invested $2M for a financial assistance programme for persons in the territory. Two partners came on board also; Caritas Antilles and ADRA, the Adventist Development Relief Agency which has paved the way for the BVI Red Cross to be giving between $800-1200 to 1050 beneficiaries for 3 months.

It was cognisant of these and other facts, like the invaluable time and labour put in by overseas and local volunteers of all ages and races, that Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) told the awardees, "To every person, those who reside with us and those who traveled from far, who have sacrificed time away from their families and responsibilities, who have lost sleep feeding the hungry and clothing the needy, those who mopped roads and removed debris from our roads and landscapes, all those who have contributed in some small way to assist those in need, on behalf of the Government and all the people of these Virgin Islands, I express my sincere gratitude."

He said that no one could have predicted the devastation caused by the floods and hurricanes in September 2017. "And yet we have managed to come this far in such short time towards getting our lives back to some state of normalcy."

He highlighted 2017 as being a memorable one and it's natural challenges coming at a time when the BVI Red Cross was in its 61st year of existence in the territory.

Still much work to be done

But while he acknowledged the accomplishments of the recovery and rebuilding efforts, Hon Skelton also noted that, "We are still a considerable distance in our territory and there are still much work to be done. As our relief programmes and recovery and rebuilding efforts continue, I am assured that BVI Red Cross volunteers and international partners will continue to be by our side, working shoulder to shoulder not only to assure our restoration but to enhance our resilience and our sustainability."

Something incredible

The awards ceremony was done at a time when Chief Executive Officer of the British Red Cross, Mr Mike Adamson, was on island. He too gave remarks and recounted the resilience of the people of the Territory and the important impact BVI Red Cross and volunteers made in the lives of countless persons.

"You are part of something incredible," he told volunteers. "Red Cross is needed more than ever before, look at all the disasters around the world."

He added, "The sad thing about the Red Cross is that it is in moments of crisis that its profile is suddenly increased. It's when other people are in trouble the Red Cross suddenly becomes the focus. We see that around the world and actually that's sad in one way but it's so important that we build on it as well as create because people are looking to the Red Cross to step up."

CEO Adamson presented the Henry Dunant team award to BVI Red Cross Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr Geoffrey H. Brooks.

The Henry Dunant Medal is the highest award of the Red Cross Movement. The medal is presented every two years by the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. This body represents the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the various National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Also present to congratulate and celebrate with the awardees was Governor of the Virgin Islands, His Excellency Augustus J. U. Jaspert.