A look back at the official opening of the Regional Humanitarian Warehouse: a highlight for Caribbean cooperation
The official opening of our new Regional Humanitarian Warehouse took place this week in the presence of the presidents of the Red Cross societies of several Caribbean countries, our technical and financial partners, and the teams involved in the project.
It was a long-awaited moment, celebrating not only the completion of a major construction project, but also the collective momentum that has driven it from the outset.
The day brought together all those involved in strengthening regional crisis preparedness. The official speeches reiterated the vision and ambition shared within the Caribbean network: to be better prepared, to cooperate more effectively and to provide better protection.
The President of the French Red Cross, Dr Caroline Cross, emphasised the symbolic significance of this new facility:
‘The future of disaster preparedness lies in preventive solidarity, early response and enhanced cooperation. And this warehouse symbolises precisely that: the strength of foresight, the power of collective action, and confidence in the women and men who are committed to this cause on a daily basis.’
This message was also echoed by Jérémie Sibéoni, who emphasised the importance of this shared resource for all Red Cross organisations in the region:
‘This new warehouse is not just a piece of infrastructure: it is becoming a common lever, a place where cooperation, solidarity and operational action come together to serve Caribbean communities.’
Beyond the speeches, this inauguration was above all an opportunity for discussion, networking and putting the work accomplished into perspective. It highlighted the essential role of regional cooperation and the ongoing commitment of the teams and partners.
The day ended with a tour of the site, offering a concrete immersion in this new strategic location.
A space designed to be useful, responsive and at the service of the population when they need it most.
The construction of the PIRAC Regional Humanitarian Warehouse was made possible thanks to the Ready Together project, followed by Ready Together Extension, funded by the Interreg Caribbean programme under the European Regional Development Fund, the 3 Oceans programme led by the AFD – Agence Française de Développement, the CMA CGM Foundation, the Guadeloupe Region and the French Red Cross. The project is also part of a close collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
