Third sector involvement in humanitarian service on the island continues to be lauded by Government.
Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, Colin Jordan, praised the sector’s interest in bringing relief to those ravaged by Hurricane Elsa in an online meeting yesterday with over 40 representatives from this sector, including faith-based organisations and service clubs.
Speaking at the end of the session, he told those present: “Thank you very much for agreeing to be part of this exercise. I know that this is what you are set up for; this is what you do. This is what you are passionate about.
“Most of you who are invited are volunteers and you give of your time to take care of people and to really take people out of negative situations and to put them in a better place. We thank you all.”
On Saturday, July 3, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced that Government would be working with this sector in the relief effort to address the needs of persons affected by the passage of Hurricane Elsa on July 2. This is specific to in-kind (non-cash) donations.
As such, the Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations has been tasked with coordinating the relief efforts with respect to the collection of donations to assist those affected.
The effort will see Government working with service clubs (Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and Optimist), faith-based organisations (The Salvation Army, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the HUB of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Anglican Church), and the Barbados Association of Non-Governmental Organisations.
Yesterday’s Zoom meeting discussed the coordination efforts with service providers and select organisations within the Third Sector.
Further expressing gratitude to this sector, Mr. Jordan said: “I just want to reaffirm Government’s commitment to working with the Third Sector. We recognise that there is a role for you; you have been executing this role for quite a long time.
“But we are recognising it officially and we want to make sure that you are involved in a very public way, so that the rest of the country understands that this sector is a sector that is critical to national development, and that is critical to what we do as we take care of our brothers and sisters.”