He disclosed that donor supports was dwindling nothing it was high time Sierra Leoneans started giving supports aimed at ensuring that the SLRCS continues to provide its auxiliary to government and the people of Sierra Leone. He described the SLRCS as the property of people of Sierra Leone adding it was important to give united support especially to its local resource mobilization drive.
Reverend Fayia reminded government on the provisions of the act of parliament that established the SLRCS in 1962 as amended in 2012 which, among other things states that the SLRCS will remain a body:
-Having perpetual succession and capable of acquiring property
-Government shall provide subvention to the society
-Property and assets of the society shall include its source of funding, be exempted from all taxes and duties including import duties.
Reverend Fayia pointed out that despite the legal bases, government has never paid subvention to the SLRCS adding the recent executive order has worsening the situation that has prevented the SLRCS to clear it container that has been stock for over 7 months at the Quay Elizabeth in Freetown. This he said was impeding the SLRCS work in providing humanitarian services to the vulnerable people of the country.
Kpawuru Sandy, Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, said transformation Process has be gone resulting from Integrity Crisis the Society Faced during the Ebola Response.
He said the international Federation took immediate remedial action by sending an Interim Independent Manager to serve as CEO and to lead the transformation process. This process, he noted has been hugely supported by the presence of International Delegates from the International Federation of the Red, The British Red Cross and the Finish Red Cross.
“We now have a new Governance in place headed by The Reverend Sahr Christian Fayia composed of very highly placed and notable personalities from all regions of the Country including highly experienced and very competent professionals, recruited through a very transparent and competitive HR Processes”. Mr. Sandy said.
He said the media was crucial in the work of rebranding the Society is in Full swing with new team determined to make a difference. He added the new management was however, faced with huge financial liabilities and legal Challenges which he said would be overcome them with support of SLRCS volunteers, relevant partners and the Government of Sierra Leone.
Mr. Sandy revealed the SLRCS was determined to reinvent Resource mobilization drive with new business initiatives that would encourage the general public to partner with SLRCS to generate resources that would be directed towards humanitarian service.
