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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Sharon Griffin (seated, second left) said Thursday that Cabinet has given its approval for preparation of Draft Legislation for the Care and Protection of Older Persons to be facilitated by officials in the Office of the Attorney-General. Also pictured (from left) are: Phedra Rahming, Under Secretary, Ministry of Social Services and Community Development; Charles Sawyer, Deputy Chairman, National Council on Older Persons and Lillian Quant-Forbes, Senior Deputy Director, Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Services and Community Development. Also pictured are guests at the press conference launch. (BIS Photo/Raymond A. Bethel, Sr.)
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NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Government of The Bahamas has moved to address in law many of the abuses being perpetrated against the nation’s elderly, by approving the ‘Rationale for Proposed Legislation for Older Persons in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas’ for draft legislation in late August.
The next step is for the Rationale to be prepared into Draft Legislation for the Care and Protection of Older Persons Bill by officials at the Office of the Attorney General.
Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Sharon Griffin said the legislation – once drafted, adopted and enacted – will ensure that persons who abuse the country’s elderly, will “come under the long arm of the law.”
Mrs. Griffin’s announcement came as the country gets set to commemorate International Day for Older Persons and Older Persons Month, which are both observed annually in October.
(BIS Photo/Raymond A. Bethel, Sr.)
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The announcement, on September 22 at the Ministry’s offices, also came as the National Council on Older Persons and the country gets set to pay tribute to the late Mrs. Juliette Barnwell, who served as Chairperson of the National Council on Older Persons until her recent passing. (Mrs. Barnwell’s remains will be laid to rest on Saturday, September 24, 2016).
Mrs. Barnwell – herself a Senior Citizen -- was a “driving force” in the research and preparation of the information that eventually formed the document “Rationale for Proposed Legislation for Older Persons in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”
“As Chairperson of the Council, Mrs. Barnwell was extremely concerned about the elderly and what appeared to be a lack of respect for them, their views and their continued participation in society in a meaningful way,” Mrs. Griffin said.
“She was also concerned about their welfare and their care and protection from neglect and physical and financial abuse. It was these strong beliefs that led her and her team to spend endless and tireless (hours) in dialogue, research and consultation with stakeholders putting together the information which eventually formed the document ‘Rationale for Proposed Legislation for Older Persons in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.’”
That document was presented to Minister Griffin by Mrs. Barnwell, along with other members of the National Council on Older Persons on Thursday, April 28, 2016. Less than four months later, the document was approved by Cabinet to be sent to the Attorney General’s Office to form Draft Legislation.
(BIS Photo/Raymond A. Bethel, Sr.)
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“Through the experiences of Social Services over the years and caring for the elderly, we have discovered that there are a lot of concerns with regards to the care and protection and welfare of the elderly and so we hope to accomplish first of all, legislation, laws, that actually speak to this welfare and care and protection and legislation that will let persons know -- under penalty of law – that if they abuse our elderly, they will come under the long arm of the law. It is important to us for them to know that,” Mrs. Griffin said.
“We hear from Senior Citizens how their National Insurance Benefits are sometimes being taken advantage of by some family members and sometimes caregivers, and of course we have the neglect of the elderly where some families and caregivers are leaving them home alone.
“The elderly are a major part of our community and we have to have specific legislation in place to ensure their well-being and protection.”
Minister Griffin addressed a timeframe for the legislation.
“We are hoping to get a draft as soon as possible and have it for consideration because it has to do the rounds of consultations before we take a final draft to Parliament, but I believe we will have wide support for this proposed legislation because many people will know some of the concerns of the elderly.
“The National Council worked very hard on this effort. It was really Mrs. Barnwell’s heart’s desire to see it come to fruition and so our seniors should be very happy.”
(BIS Photo/Raymond A. Bethel, Sr.)
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