Reignite the flame of national commitment

ICONGRATULATE most warmly the Jamaica Red Cross as you celebrate 70 years of achievement and growth in service to the people of Jamaica.

The organisation, through its committed leadership and hardworking volunteers, has steadfastly pursued the fulfilment of its vision to improve the lives of the vulnerable and build the structures of peace within the wider community. It is clear that you have successfully combined social and infrastructural interventions with a commitment to winning hearts and minds in the battle to preserve and enrich the soul of the nation.

We do not engage in disaster relief, or community projects, be they related to health, conflict resolution, or skills training, as ends in themselves. We relate them to the more fundamental purpose of creating communities of well-being in which individuals feel confident, safe, respected and free to fulfil their God-given potential, peacefully and with purpose.

As we look back over the past 70 years, we remind ourselves that Jamaicans have been blessed by generations of people who were God-fearing, neighbourly, generous and far-sighted. They believed in their own possibilities and sacrificed to secure a brighter future. Now more than ever, we need to come together, reignite the flame of national commitment, dig deeply into our reserves of generosity and support our organisations which promote human dignity and peace.

The Jamaica Red Cross stands tall in its consistent commitment and readiness to serve our people at their point of need. I appeal to my fellow Jamaicans to ensure that in 2018, we express our sincere gratitude to this dedicated national organisation and demonstrate our resolve to empower it for even greater impact by the generosity of our giving. The gifts of volunteer time, monetary contributions and information sharing all have a valued place in the process.

May the 70th anniversary programme of celebration be a rewarding one for us all.