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The newly appointed Chairman of the Montserrat Red Cross, John Skerritt, says strengthening community resilience and expanding support for vulnerable groups will be central to the organization’s work moving forward. Mr. Skerritt said his focus would be on strengthening the Red Cross’ capacity in crisis management, improving collaboration with key agencies such as the Disaster Management Coordination Agency- DMCA and Social Services, as well as enhancing communication and public engagement. Among his priorities are recognizing and supporting volunteers, improving digital outreach, and developing initiatives that assist the elderly and persons living with disabilities, including renewed partnerships with organizations supporting the blind and deaf communities. Meanwhile, Director Delmaude Ryan, who assumed office in December, said her background in public service has prepared her well for the role, noting that the Red Cross works closely with the government of Montserrat to deliver humanitarian assistance. Mrs. Ryan highlighted disaster preparedness as a key focus area, particularly given Montserrat’s vulnerability not only to hurricanes but also to public health emergencies such as COVID-19. She also pointed to ongoing support for migrant residents and other at-risk groups. Both officials say their vision is to build a stronger, more responsive Montserrat Red Cross that continues to uphold its humanitarian principles while adapting to the evolving needs of the community.

The reintroduction of Police dogs is not off the table. Commissioner of Police Mark Payne says a K9 programme is under consideration, but financial and logistical challenges mean drones will continue to serve as the primary search and rescue tool in the interim. He said while police dogs can also be valuable in search operations, drones currently provide a cost-effective solution capable of covering large areas quickly. Commissioner Payne was responding to questions, on the “What’s on Your Mind” radio programme, about the implementation of cadaver and sniffer dogs.