Political parties challenged to donate $5,000 each
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten HIV/AIDS Foundation and Scotiabank launched the fifth annual Stronger Together Red Ribbon Campaign on Thursday with a target of US $100,000.
Foundation President Dr. Gerard van Osch has challenged the various political parties to donate at least US $5,000 each to the campaign. He said while parties wouldn't get the foundation's vote, they would get its admiration.
"Instead of erecting yet another, bigger billboard, it's our fifth anniversary, so US $5,000 per political party is our humble challenge. You won't get our vote because we will continue to be politically neutral, but you'll get our undivided admiration," said Van Osch.
The campaign kicked off with an initial donation of US $5,000 from Scotiabank, the programme's dedicated partner. This will be matched by a similar donation in the future.
Van Osch said setting a goal of US $100,000 in economically difficult times and launching its campaign "smack in the middle of a political campaign where businesses have already been stripped to the bare bone through political donations" was "rather bold," but "we in St. Maarten are known to be bold, optimistic and achievers, so here we are requesting your financial support once more in our response to HIV/AIDS.
"In St. Maarten there is not one business that has not at least one employee living with HIV/AIDS. We need to support those persons, and need to make sure their numbers don't continue to rise. HIV is a treatable, manageable condition these days, but higher numbers mean higher insurance cost, higher health care cost and higher cost for recruitment and training.
"HIV is, however, also a preventable infection. To do that we need funds and your support," he told the gathering that included commissioners, Island Council members, politicians, representatives of businesses, and St. Maarten HIV/AIDS Programme Manager Suzette Moses-Burton.
The AIDS Foundation President said the "fight" against HIV/AIDS was not over. "It's just beginning; we are at a crossroads and will have to make it work ourselves. Let's stand 'Stronger Together' and make this year's Red Ribbon Campaign another raving success," he said.
Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt said Scotiabank and the AIDS Foundation's efforts were commendable and deserving of praise, and that he was happy to hear that HIV/AIDS figures were likely to be on the decline.
HIV/AIDS Programme Manager Suzette Moses-Burton said that while the goal of US $100,000 was an ambitious one, it was just "a drop in the bucket," considering the foundation's needs to realise its goals of establishing a Secretariat to run its operations more efficiently.
She said Van Osch and his team of volunteers had been doing a good job over the years. She was proud to note that the HIV/AIDS-fighting RED Campaign that she had initiated and spearheaded was now being introduced and re-launched by Curaçao's Island Government.
Health Commissioner Hyacinth Richardson commended Van Osch, Scotiabank and Moses-Burton for their efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS in St. Maarten. He said Van Osch had always been reliable and willing to assist when called on, and that government would continue to support the foundation with contributions as it had been doing in the past.
Richardson personally pledged US $1,000. He said he would go back to his party the National Alliance (NA) and inform them of the Foundation's call for parties to assist, and said he was sure that NA would also support the cause.
NA Island Councilman George Pantophlet said he was happy to hear of the programme that the AIDS Foundation had embarked on to assist boys. He said a change in mindset and mentality was needed for an even bigger change to be realised in the area of HIV/AIDS.
He shared a story of his first friend who he knew had contracted HIV some 20 years ago, relating that when the person had seen him, he/she had turned his/her face, but he had approached the person and embraced him/her to make it clear that the person would not be ignored. Pantophlet commended those involved in the initiative.
Scotiabank's Commercial Banking Manager Gloria Williams said the Stronger Together campaign was a "personal priority" for Scotiabank Head Elie Bendaly, who was on "a well-deserved vacation" and could not be present for the launch.
She said Scotiabank had partnered with the AIDS Foundation since 2006 to raise the awareness of HIV/AIDS in St. Maarten. More than US $125,000 has been raised since the partnership began.
"In setting our goal for this year, we considered the global economic climate and debated if we should amend our target. Seeing that St. Maarten will soon achieve Country Status [...] we realised the importance of this programme, which continues to contribute to the health and wellbeing of our citizens. Therefore, after careful consideration, we maintain our goal at US $100,000.
"When I reminisce over the past four years, I realise this campaign never took the easy road, and thanks to you, we continue to move forward in educating our community about HIV and AIDS," Williams concluded.
