Philipsburg: --- Revelers during this Carnival season would have to be extremely careful as they jump up or participate in this year carnival since the Red Cross would not be offering their services during the annual carnival celebrations. Director of the Red Cross Mr. Bobby Valesquez said they met several times with the board of the SCDF and they could not come to an agreement. Valesquez said the President of the SCDF has been giving them different answers on each occasion they meet. He said one time they are hearing they are in and the next time they are out.
Valesquez said the main problem is the SCDF and as well as the Health and Hygiene Department wants the RED CROSS to do what these departments of foundations wants them to do. He said the RED CROSS is a recognized organization and they have their house rules to abide by. He said the Red Cross is a movement that is governed by its fundamental principles and they are not a pick up organization that needs any kind of recognition. Valesquez said while the institution is there to work alongside government they must abide by their rules and principles of the Red Cross.
He made clear that no one from government or anywhere else would dictate for the Red Cross a recognized institution. He said while there are people in the community looking for recognition the Red Cross is not and he has no intention to bend the rules of the organization that are govern by its fundamental principles.
Valesquez said the organization is doing well as only recently certify close to 40 new members and they are busy preparing for the upcoming hurricane season. As for the financial situation Valesquez said last year 2008 they were experiencing some problems since the island government did not live up to its promises by providing the necessary subsidy. He said while the Red Cross provides rescue services during fires and other disasters they are not obliged to maintain these services. Valesquez said the Red Cross is not government. Victims he said needs food and shelter which must be provided by government and not the Red Cross who is only responsible for first response. He said the Red Cross cannot continue with the maintaining of these services since the island government would place the victims at their doors and forget them. He said while the Red Cross does not discriminate they do need the resources to provide the necessary emergency services.