St John Ambulance activities have been carried on in St Lucia for over 80 years. A National Council was established by a constitution approved by the Grand Prior of the Order of St John which became effective on 21 March 1967 to have overall control and support of the activities of the St John Ambulance Association and the St John Ambulance Brigade. St John Ambulance Association and St John Ambulance Brigade amalgamated in 1974 to become the St John Ambulance Foundation. The St John Council of St Lucia was incorporated in St Lucia on 10 March 1998 under Companies act 26 of 1998. Since 25 October 1999 the National St John Council of St Lucia and St John Ambulance in St Lucia have constituted a unified organisation. On 1 January 2004 all National Councils became known as St John Associations.
Values and Objectives
The objectives and purposes of the St John Association of St Lucia are as follows:
- To encourage all that makes for the spiritual and moral strengthening of mankind in accordance with the first great principle of the Order of St John embodied in the Motto “Pro Fide”, that is, “For the Faith”
- To encourage and promote all works of humanity and charity for the relief of persons in sickness, distress, suffering or danger without any distinction as to race, class or religion in accordance with the second great principle of the Order embodied in the Motto “Pro Utilitate Hominum” , that is, “In the Service of Humanity”
- To render aid to the sick, wounded, disabled or suffering
- To conduct St John Ambulance activities in St Lucia and in so doing to render first aid to members of the public and others; to provide community care; to conduct first aid and other training; and to provide training for the development of young people; and
- To provide a permanent organisation and trained personnel to be immediately available to give assistance to Central or Local Government Departments or the Armed Forces of St Lucia in the event of civil emergency or war.
Structure & Governance
St John Ambulance Saint Lucia is governed by a National Council, which consists of a Chair, and other elected individuals of good standing drawn from various sectors of the society. The National Council determines national policy and set directions for the St John organisation in St Lucia.
St John Ambulance Saint Lucia is a charity with a strong volunteer ethos, is volunteer led and relies heavily on volunteers to undertake its charitable work. It is essentially self-funding with first aid training, the sale of publications and first aid kits, public duty income and donations funding its humanitarian objectives. St John Ambulance Saint Lucia is not dependent on government funding nor is attached to any one church or religious organisation.
Mission and Vision
St John is a charity in the Saint Lucian community working For the Service of Humanity.
Our vision for the future, whether acting alone or in partnership with others, is the provision of charitable and humanitarian services to individuals, groups and organisations.
Our relief work for persons in sickness, distress, suffering or danger recognises no barrier of race, colour or creed.
Funds raised for the services St John provides are a means for achieving our overall humanitarian objectives.
Fundraising is not, nor will be allowed to become, an end in itself. St John takes pride in its volunteer ethos, its ethical standards and its independence.
These together provide the firm foundation on which St John determines the best means of achieving the objectives to which it is dedicated.
Council / Staff
Dame Pearlette Louisy, GCSL, GCMG, DStJ – President
Marie Dalsan – Chairperson
Ronald Gardner OStJ – Vice Chairperson
Vinoth Villanlan Santhappan – Chaplin
Rita McPhee – Administrative Officer
Llewellyn Gill – Treasurer
Eldridge Stephens CStJ – Awards Committee Chair
Primus Suffren – Trustee
Berthia Nickson – Chief Commissioner
Glenn Wilson OStJ – Chief Commissioner/Training Officer
William Gardner CStJ – Trustee/Adviser