Ms Stacy Wilson

In 2000, I was given the opportunity to join the CRN+ family when I attended my first meeting at the Cascadia Hotel in Trinidad and Tobago.

On this occasion I met with persons from several other Caribbean countries and received reassurance that we as people living with HIV/AIDS had a major role to play in improving the quality of our lives as well as the lives of those affected.

In October 2002 at the Annual General Meeting and Capacity Building Workshop on strategic planning, I was nominated Continental Representative to represent Belize , Suriname and Guyana.

The theme of the meeting was “Trust the Process” and this was my motto for the next year. My “trust” in the process was put to the test when in 2003 I was nominated Chairperson of the Board for I was unsure of my ability to fill the shoes of my predecessors, Ms Suzette Moses-Burton and Mr Michael Fox.

In my years of being part of CRN+, I can fearlessly say, “We have come a long way.” We have achieved much in little time: the formulation of a five-year strategic plan; the expansion of the Secretariat with a staff of highly qualified professionals; the establishment of partnerships with other civil society organizations (CSOs); and the distinction of being the only CSO in the world to date to be successful in its bid for funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

We are thankful to God for his blessings and strength and to Yolanda Simon, our Regional Coordinator, for her dedication in keeping the vision and hope alive for the PLWHA movement.