The Hon. Melanie Griffin, Minister of Social Services & Community Development, brings remarks during the church service launching Older Persons Month.
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NASSAU, The Bahamas – Increasing segments of the country’s older
population are being forced to seek Government assistance because they
are being neglected, abused, abandoned and ostracized by their families,
Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie
Griffin said Wednesday.
“We are all aware of the
deterioration of the extended family – coupled with the impacts from the
recession -- and the effect this has, and has had, on older persons
[but] families owe it to their older members to ensure that they are
properly provided for and given the respect they deserve,” Mrs. Griffin
said.
“We must endeavour to ensure that older persons throughout our country are engaged, empowered and provided for.”
Addressing
the annual Church Service to launch the observance of Older Persons
Month in The Bahamas, Mrs. Griffin told Senior Citizens attending the
Service at Christ Community Church that they can be confident in the
Government’s resolve to ensure that they will remain full and active
participants in the country they helped to build.
The Service was held as part of global celebrations of International Day for Older persons.
Minister
Griffin said the Government will continue to provide, and where
necessary ensure, that services are in place to assist the country’s
elderly through the Ministry of Social Services and Community
Development “and other relevant agencies of the State.”
“Ageing,
like other stages of life, has its challenges and rewards. We have an
obligation, however, to ensure that the challenges are not too difficult
for our older persons to bear and that support is provided where and
when necessary.
“Let us, therefore, demonstrate to older
persons throughout The Bahamas that we value them as important
components of our society and want to engage their continued
contributions as participating members,” Minister Griffin added.
Mrs.
Griffin said the 2010 Census Report indicates that from the years
2000-2010 the population of persons 65 years and older grew from 15,777
to 21,629. It is further estimated that the number of persons over the
age of 60 in 2030 will be more than 13 per cent of the total population.
Global projections indicate that by the year 2030,
persons 60 years and over will constitute 20 per cent of the global
population.
“Considering this inevitable shift in the age
demographics, both locally and globally, The Bahamas must pay attention
to this cohort of persons as it is the responsibility of governments to
foster the creation of societies where all ages can fully participate
and make vital contributions,” Mrs. Griffin said.
“Governments
are therefore, being encouraged to ensure that the needs of citizens of
all ages are taken into consideration when planning for sustainable
development. Older persons in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas will be
fully integrated into the overall plan for national development as we
promote a society for all,” Mrs. Griffin added.
The Hon. Melanie S. Griffin, Minister of Social Services and Community Development, in attendance at the church service celebrating the 24th International Day of Older Persons and launching ‘Older Persons Month,’ under the theme "Leaving No One Behind, Promoting A Society For All" at Christ Community Church, October 1, 2014.
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A number of elderly persons attend the church service celebrating older persons in the community.
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