The Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (CRN+), the regional umbrella organisation that advocates for, and on behalf of Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV), convened a board meeting on 3-4 July 2017 in Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The meeting agreed on the membership of an Interim Board, which will serve from July 4, 2017, to July 3, 2018.

Mr Winfield Tannis-Abbott was elected the new Chair, Ms Ethel Pengel, Vice Chair, Mr Devon Gabourel, Secretary, Mr Purnell Christian-Thomas, Treasurer, Mr William Moultrie 111, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, Dr Felix Reyes, Assistant Treasurer and Ms Eloise Patricia Phillips, Board Member.

The Board also revised the Terms of Reference for the Advisory Group, reviewed and revised the Constitution, agreed on the term of the Board, reviewed the Strategic Plan and aligned its strategic objectives and activities to the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF), the UNAIDS Fast Track Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. It also noted the progress on implementation of some key activities and agreed on the process for the development of a Communication Plan, the frequency of meetings and reporting schedules.

The Meeting was also attended by Mr Jason Shepherd, Senior Programme Officer, Ms Nicola Taylor Advisor on Governance, Mr Dereck Springer, Director of PANCAP, Dr Carolyn Gomes, Executive Director, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), Dr Shellon Bovell, Project Coordinator, Office of the Principal Recipient for PANCAP Global Fund Grant, CARICOM Secretariat, Ms Roanna Morton-Williams Bynoe, Coordinator – Monitoring and Evaluation, National AIDS Programme, Ministry of Health, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Further, the Board was updated on the financial support being provided to CRN+ by PANCAP, CVC, and the Robert Carr Civil Society Networks Fund-Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+).

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What is CRN+?

The Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (CRN+) is the regional umbrella organisation that advocates for, and on behalf of Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) and is the only organisation of its kind in the region. It is comprised of 27 national affiliates representing the Dutch, English, French and Spanish countries in the Caribbean. It is also an affiliate of The Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and a member of the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS – ICW.

CRN+ was established in 1996 by people living with HIV (PLHIV) who were concerned about the issues facing them in the Caribbean and determined to be involved in making decisions about their future. Technical and financial support was provided by GNP+, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), now known as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).