BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE
SOLOMON Islands Red Cross Society completed preliminary discussion on the review of its constitution on Wednesday, May 30.
According to their press release statement, the three day workshop facilitated by Sue Chamberlain from the New Zealand Red Cross and Divine Waiti of the Marshall Islands Red Cross Governing Board was attended by members of the governing board, senior management team, staff and volunteers from its provincial branches.
The facilitators are both members of the Red Cross Crescent Pacific Network Constitutional Advisory Committee.
As stated by the report, Secretary General of the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society Mr Thomas Bebeu whilst delivering his opening address highlighted that the workshop marks the history of the national society in setting forth a direction that is visual for them to be more effective and relevant.
“Today marks a landmark in the history of the National Society in the review of our national constitution in order to comply with contemporary movement rules and procedures to make us an effective auxiliary to the public authorities in the humanitarian field,” said Mr Bebeu.
He expressed that amongst the growing number of institutions that have entered the humanitarian sector, working to reduce various vulnerabilities the society wants to remain as an active and leading actor.
Bebeu said that this is in the context of being prepared to assist the national government address humanitarian issues and fulfill its auxiliary role.
“That is, in rendering assistance in supporting the national government to meet the demands of local people and communities in both disaster and peace times,” he said.
Solomon Islands Red Cross society expressed that under it’s strategic mission, it continues to strive to be a leading humanitarian actor in the country.
The press statement mentioned that the society currently has four provincial branches Malaita, Western, Temotu and Rennell and Bellona provinces.
“The Solomon Islands Red Cross Society was a branch of the British Red Cross Society but subsequently recognised as National Red Cross Society through an Act of National Parliament of the Solomon Islands in 1983 and was officially admitted to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 1991,” said the press statement.
