The BVI Diabetes Association's resource centre on Main Street. Photo: VINO/File

President of the BVI Diabetes Association, Mr Elton Georges CMG, OBE said persons should consider the association in their will. Photo: VINO/File

From right: President of Virgin Gorda BVI Diabetes Association, Franka Pickering; Mr Elton Georges CMG, OBE, and President of the association’s Tortola branch, Astrid C. Wenzke at the press conference on November 7, 2016. Photo: VINO

Mr Georges was addressing a press conference at the association’s Main Street office on Monday November 7, 2016 to officially inform of the month-long activities planned in observance of World Diabetes month, this November.

He said on an annual basis, the Government of the Virgin Islands allocates a grant of $35,000 to the association; however, this amount is merely a drop in the bucket.

“The association needs the support of the public, we need a strong financial support from the public,” he stressed. “We need a much greater and wider financial support and we are urging companies, corporations, to put the BVI Diabetes Association on their list of charities to keep in mind for their charitable donations.”

Georges continued, “Because we are making the point that diabetes will affect a larger percentage of the population of the territory, their own employees, families of their employees…so in terms of importance and impact I think that it is fair to say that it takes priority.”

Consider the association in your will

The President of the association also had another request.

“We are asking also that you leave the Diabetes Association in your will,” he pointed out.

President of the Tortola Diabetes Association Mrs Astrid C. Wenzke was also in support and had this to say. “I watched your faces when Mr Georges mentioned making a bequest…there are a lot of people in the BVI that do not have family here, there are elderly people here who might even know anybody close to them and might be glad if they can make such an impact.”

Expenditure and revenue

Mr Georges informed that the association employs the services of one full-time and one part-time worker.

On a yearly basis, their wages takes the largest chunk of their annual budget, followed by rent and supplies.

When asked whether the BVI Diabetes Association would or had put forward their case requesting a raise in a grant from central Government, Georges responded that while they would welcome an increase from them, they are bearing in mind that there are other charities also relying on grants from them as well.

According to him, the association ran a deficit of $13,000 in 2013, $17,000 in 2014, in 2015 they increased their income to $101,000 with their expenditure in the region of $96,000, which left a net income somewhere about $5,000.

He also used his turn to thank those who has in the past contributed towards the cause.

Mrs Wenzke mentioned that the association is not sitting on its hands, rather they are constantly seeking out new ways to generate income for the association, such as the sale of diabetic supplies.

Members needed

A call was also made to interested persons to come on board and be a member in order to push the work of the association forward. Presently, membership fees are 25 per annum, but that will increase to 30. Currently, there are under 60 members of the association in the territory.