Black Immigrant Daily News

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A new programme aimed at fostering greater awareness of the needs and issues impacting the lives of vulnerable older persons through conversation, consultation and experience sharing is set to begin here shortly.

The programme, dubbed ‘Adopt an Older Person’, will seek to rekindle nationalcommitment to improving the plight of the nation’s vulnerable older population and toencourage cooperation and team-work among people at all levels within society.

Being spearheaded by the Elder Care Unit of the Division of Human Services, under theauspices of Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, the programme willsolicit the active involvement of individuals, families and community groups/organizations, getting them to reengage with seniors in meaningful and imaginative ways.

Senior Field Social Worker in the Elder Care Unit of the Division of Human ServicesFadia Andrew, notes that “the idea is for individuals and groups to adopt a senior citizenas a one-off gesture or through repeated gestures demonstrated throughout the lengthof the programme.”

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According to Andrew, individuals and groups can make a gesture of goodwill to anidentified vulnerable older person within their respective communities, with no limit onthe size or nature of the gestures to be shared.

The interactive engagements Andrew notes, “will not only imbue a sense of pride andaccomplishment in members of the public who enroll in the programme to adopt seniors, but will also help in empowering older persons, allowing them to make meaningful contributions that enrich lives, provoke feelings of goodwill, recognition, appreciation and improve their overall wellbeing.

The Ministry of Equity admonishes that ‘we cannot help everyone but everyone can helpsomeone.’

The Ministry reminds the citizenry that small cumulative efforts can have tremendous results. Community groups are particularly encouraged to assume personal responsibility for creating a better reality for older persons by making small, meaningful and creative gestures towards these individuals who exist in their midst.

Registration for the Adopt an Older Person programme commences October 1, 2022.As part of the process individuals and groups must: Identify a vulnerable older person; Identify the urgent needs of the individual; Contact the Division of Human Services viatelephone numbers (468 6570/ 6572/ 6573/ 6574) to register.

Alternatively, you can contact your Social Transformation Officer or your Welfare Officer; Implement the gesture/gestures and Provide feedback to the Elder Care Unit on the experience.

In Saint Lucia, like in other parts of the world, although older persons continue tocontribute meaningfully to economic, political, civil, social and cultural development,their contributions remain largely invisible and is oftentimes disregarded.

Statistical data show that during the next ten years, the number of older persons in theCaribbean will double. This ageing of the population has important implications forpublic policy in areas such as pensions, health, and social care services.

SOURCE: Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment

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El alcalde de Guaynabo, Edward O’Neill, dio en el programa Noches Con Sentido de RADIO ISLA , que la administración de LUMA Energy, no escucha a “los que están abajo”.

“Para ellos nosotros somos unos indios con taparrabos. No hacen nada. Yo no tengo problemas con ellos trabajando, pero la alta gerencia tiene que tener más comunicación con los de abajo y tienen que dirigirse más a los alcaldes, ya que ellos no hicieron una transición, ellos hicieron un cambio, que es más difícil todavía”.

Asimismo, el mandatario municipal dijo que deben escuchar más las recomendaciones de los alcaldes.

“Ahora en esta emergencia, deberían escuchar un poco más a los alcaldes, que saben dónde está la bomba de agua , de donde se alimenta, donde están los centros de envejecientes , las cosas esenciales en cada municipio”, afirmó .

De igual forma, O’Neill expuso que LUMA Energy debe ser fiscalizada. 

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Ernst & Young Caribbean executive chairman Wade George.

ERNST & Young (EY) Caribbean executive chairman Wade George called for an easier access to incentivising tax breaks for local businesses, addressing the post-budget analysis of the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain.

Tax breaks exist, he said, but were not easily accessible.

“Consolidate all incentives into a business facilitation unit,” George said.

Speaking on the theme of the business environment he urged an end to red tape for existing incentives, saying, “We don’t need more incentives.”

George reiterated the point later during the panel discussion, when he lamented that it often takes a business months to get a simple certificate from a ministry before an application process can even be begun. He called for the establishment of a team of young people drawn from each relevant ministry to work together in a business facilitation unit, to increase access to incentives for local businesses.

Moderator Maria Daniel remarked that she thought that had been the role of ExportTT, and wondered if something had been missing.

Otherwise George also called the business sector to account. He asked if businesses should be content simply to profit by buying and selling imported items, or should strive for import substitution, export markets, foreign-exchange earnings, and job creation.

“Are we willing to take the risks to do something not only for our businesses but for the country?”

George said the US offices of his employer EY had employed expertise based at EY in Trinidad and Tobago which was cheaper than US-based staff and also provided foreign-exchange earnings for TT.

“The thinking should be, ‘How can we solve the problems?’ without complaining all the time.”

Hadco co-CEO John Hadad said his company was always open to new ideas presented to it, speaking on the theme Growing Traditional Businesses through Vision and Diversification.

“You’d be surprised at the things that come at you.”

Saying the firm was built on borrowed money, he quipped that every bank in TT owned a piece of Hadco.

Hadad traced how Hadco had begun as a local distributor in TT but then expanded to distribution overseas such as in the US. Hadco had also started making things like ice cream, he said, leveraging its distribution expertise to get its product quickly to market.

He said Hadco was involved in recycling as a business, involving materials such as batteries, cardboard and plastics. Anticipating a tyre recycling plant within four months time, he quipped, “We’ll be making gym mats before we ship the (rubber) powder abroad.”

Hadad said his company was also involved in fisheries, a steelpan-making co-operative and two eco-tourism sites, including the Asa Wright Nature Centre. He hailed TT’s feat of being recognised globally as “a bastion of turtle conservation.” Hadad said the company was considering an initial public offering.

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