Recently retired from the Public Service where she spent 31 years of her working life, Delia Chatoor now has more time to devote to her role as president of the T&T Red Cross Society. Her retirement coincides with the society’s continuing celebration of its 50th anniversary since an Act for the Incorporation of the T&T Red Cross Society was assented to confirming the organisation as one of the new members of the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies in 1963. The San Fernando native is a lawyer (admitted 1980) who devoted her career to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the following divisions over the years: Political and Economic Affairs Division, Legal and Marine Affairs Division, Administration Division, International Trade and Economic Affairs Division, Training Division, Multilateral Relations Division, Americas Division and finally, as acting deputy permanent secretary.
From September 1988 to February 1996 she was assigned to T&T’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York, and from June 1999 to April 2004 was appointed head of the Sub-Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross with responsibility for all Caricom member states except Haiti. Her stint in 2007 in the Multilateral Relations Division also saw her involved with the activities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Her membership in various organisations include the World Wildlife Fund, the Institute of International Criminal Investigations, the Kingdom of the Netherlands—member of the board of directors, the International Criminal Law Network, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the T&T Red Cross Society—member since 1997, president from April 2005 to May 2008 and December 2011 to present. Her duties include representing the society at domestic and international meetings, covering disarmament matters, disaster management, and international legal issues (and human rights law). She is a commissioned lay minister at the Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, Les Efforts East, San Fernando.
Q: Where were you born and where did you grow up?
A: Born on Rushworth Street, San Fernando, and grew up in San Fernando, except for periods away at university and on assignment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What schools/institutions did you attend including primary?
San Fernando Girls’ Government School; St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando; University of the West Indies (UWI), Barbados, Bachelor of Laws Degree; Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad, legal education certificate; University College, London, Master of Laws Degree; Institute of International Relations, UWI, Trinidad, diploma in international relations; St Andrew’s University, Scotland, advanced certificate in terrorism studies.
Who were the people who have influenced you the most (outside of your immediate family) in your career and life in general and how did they?
There were a few, Ms Irma Thomas (high school), literature and European history teacher. She encouraged me to be a critical thinker, to check and recheck all work, and to speak, dress and sit carefully. Frs Garfield Rochard, Carlyle Fortune and Clyde Harvey—they taught me about spirituality, the role of the Roman Catholic church in the society, and how to be patient with all. Career, permanent secretaries like Christopher Thomas, Frank Abdullah, Lennox Ballah (deceased) and Joan Mendez. They respected the views of young officers once they were substantiated by reasoned arguments, they encouraged, they nurtured, and they mentored. All these individuals allowed me to develop my self-confidence, my style of leadership and writing.
How and why did you become involved with the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society?
I became a member of the society through Commodore Mervyn Williams (deceased). He had the uncanny knack of identifying people who had a particular skill and encouraging the development of that skill. Furthermore, it was a very brave person who dared say no to him. I was always interested in international relations and human rights, the plight of those less fortunate than me. Commodore recognised this, so he brought me in to cover all the international issues touching on the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement as well as how to build capacity in the national society. A background in diplomatic relations and international law were then a natural fit when I became a member. The years spent as a delegate with the International Committee of the Red Cross also added to my knowledge of international humanitarian law, the need to ban all weapons of mass destruction and more recently, I have been involved in the campaign to ban nuclear weapons because of the deadly and unpredictable humanitarian consequences of a nuclear incident. Finally, I have been looking at the causes of violence and human trafficking. These are some of the challenges affecting the region and which are engaging the attention of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
What goals and/or ambitions do you still have?
For me personally, to complete a research paper on the Role of and Relevance of International Humanitarian Law to T&T and to complete a module on human rights and international terrorism which I am due to begin in October. For the Red Cross, to see the replacement of the existing legislation which led to the incorporation of the society. The existing act is 50 years old and there have considerable changes in the roles and functions of the national society. New legislation would bring us into the 21 century.
And finally, a new and well maintained Web site so that all our activities, including events and training programmes as well as developments among our Red Cross Red Crescent partners could be disseminated.
What is/are the defining “aha” moment/s in your life so far?
The biggest “aha” occurred on September 20, 1997, when as a foreign service officer accompanying late president ANR Robinson on a visit to Rome, I was presented to St John Paul II. He blessed me and gave me a rosary. His hands, as I held them, were cool and comforting. At that time, there was no hint of him being canonised. He exuded peace and deep love. Another has to be holding my first nephew when he was just a few hours old and marvelling at the mystery of birth. The baby who I held in one hand is now over six feet.
If someone only reads a couple lines of this interview what would you want them to know?
I would like them to be aware that there is beauty around us, if we would only spend some time looking for and enjoying it; that we must care for each other no matter what our own personal circumstances may be; that hard work is essential for personal growth; that one should look for ways to mentor others and share knowledge; and the importance of family.
Most times not-for-profit organisations such as the Red Cross are led by women, and females tend to outnumber males in the membership. Why is that?
We are still the caregivers, the mother figures. We know how to multitask and do it successfully. We know how to make funds stretch and stretch. We are planners and organisers, and we do so with the feminine touch.
What is the biggest need/priority of the Red Cross and how can people help?
We are in the process of organising how to rebuild our northern branch which was badly damaged by fire in May 2014. The branch has many activities and the staff need a proper working environment until there is a firm decision on what we are going to do. We have, as an organisation, outgrown the space we now occupy which includes our headquarters. A new, ultra-modern building is required for the branch and headquarters to enable us to fulfill our mandates which have grown over the years. We need ambulances to carry out our duties which have increased as well. Citizens are aware of the “Red Cross brand” and as with all civil society organisations we must have resources (financial and human) to help us in our outreach programmes and to enable us to respond quickly, efficiently and effectively to emergencies. We rely heavily on our volunteer base which is broad-based and we do not discriminate on membership. We would encourage young people to become members and assist on duties which could range from manning first aid stations, mentoring others, working of communities on HIV/Aids projects, preparing communities to deal with the impact of natural disasters and climate change, developing healthy lifestyles, poverty alleviation exercises. These are only some of the activities in which citizens can bring their time, talent and treasure as we work together for the benefit of humanity.
What other information about the society would you like to share with our readers (eg contact information, events, volunteer recruitment, training etc)?
We have three branches: North—at the headquarters of the National Society; South—in San Fernando; Tobago—Signal Hill. We train people in life skills and First Aid/CPR. We are involved in health fairs at which we provide information on HIV/Aids and lifestyle diseases. Anyone can visit a branch or the headquarters, fill out an application form, have someone do the recommendation and pay a small fee of $60. We also welcome corporate entities to partner with us on our programmes and become members. Finally, please look out for our 50th anniversary commemorative publication which will be launched in October.
CONTACT
Headquarters: 627-8215, 627-8128; e-mail: ttrc@tstt.net.tt
North branch: 627-8214
South Branch: 657-5818
Tobago Branch: 639-2781