This call has come as the country commenced celebrations for the Month of Older Persons, with activities being spearheaded by the Ministry of Social Development, led by Cabinet member, Marcella Liburd.
Citizens have also been encouraged to use the month of October as an opportunity to pay particular attention to the elders of the Federation.
Minister Liburd said she is pleading with the younger generation, especially in the family and community setting to spend time with the elders, shower them with love and appreciation and bring them out to the activities organized for the month-long celebrations.
Activities for socialization, personal development and healthy lifestyles have been organized during the course of this month, explained Ms. Liburd.
At the Ministry, Liburd stated that they are committed to providing the opportunities and services for the senior citizens to remain active throughout their years.
“One such initiative for 2013 is the expansion of the Golden Years Club. This is a recreational club designed to engage seniors in activities throughout the day to keep their minds and bodies active while at the same time providing additional opportunities to contribute to nation building,” she stated.
Throughout the Month of Older Persons, four socials have been organized for seniors, to be held at Community Centers. These will provide an opportunity for senior citizens to become actively engaged in day time activities.
The minister also invited all the churches, community groups and non-governmental organizations to engage the senior citizens in activities and to encourage other groups to follow their lead.
All the centurions in the federation were selected for high praise from the minister, who hailed them as the ‘gems of the nation’ and also stating that they are delighted that through the grace of God, along with their determination, adherence to good health practices and the love and support of their families, they have been able to experience more than the biblical allocation of three score years and ten.
The theme for this year’s commemoration of the Month of Older Persons is “Longevity: Getting and Staying Active in Later Years. The celebrations began on Tuesday 2nd October.