His Excellency the President of Dominica, Charles Savarin, and the Dominica Council on Ageing tasked members of the general public to dignify and respect elders. They made the call during the ongoing Month of the Elderly celebration month tagged “Pioneers of Resilience: The Journey to Age Equality” this September.
President Savarin lamented that thousands of senior citizens suffer from neglect and ill-health because their grown children are too busy to give them the necessary care and attention. This situation has given occasion to elders being abused by family, neighbours and even hired caregivers. He tasked people to help elders wherever they are maltreated or neglected.
“Today, as the world struggles with the challenges of neglect and abuse with which older persons are confronted,” President Savarin said, “we in Dominica must continue to engage in all ways possible to identify such ills if and where they exist, and to see to it that our older persons are treated with dignity and respect. We must be vigilant, act decisively and in a timely manner.”
The president said Dominicans must cultivate the spirit of caring for the elderly because senior citizens are a national treasure. He added Dominica has one of the highest populations of elders in the region and possibly in the world because the people care for their elderly ones. He commended the Dominica Council on Ageing for promoting and advocating for senior citizens’ rights in the country.
“We must, therefore, take time to celebrate them and acknowledge their contributions and their dreams and make ourselves ready to continue their unfinished works and aspirations for our country,” the president advised. “This can be achieved if we unselfishly devote time to our older persons particularly those who find themselves on the lower end of the social spectrum.”
President of the Dominica Council on Ageing, Ophelia Marie said the council will continue to work with liason officers and stakeholders to make life easy and enjoyable by senior citizens. A member of the board of directors for the council, Colin Bully, said the Dominica Council on Ageing is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and will continue to accord elders the respect and care they require to live meaningful lives in their old age.
This article is copyright © 2019 DOM767
