Tiling Glory

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 9 – Senior Citizens’Week. The nation will celebrate September 27-October 3, 2020 as Senior Citizens’ Week, under the theme ‘Advancing the Health and Well-being of Older Persons amid COVID-19’. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through the National Council for Senior Citizens and its partners, places greater focus on senior citizens and the need for preventative, pro- motive and transformative actions to support their comprehensive social protection strategy to include adequate safety nets that mitigate risks to economic and social development. As minister with responsibility for senior citizens, I amcommitted to the revision of the‘National Policy for Senior Citizens’, which will create a more responsive framework for healthy, active and productive ageing in Jamaica. The Government has also committed to strategies to empower seniors to a dignified retirement, including: • The creation of a social pension for seniors who have no source of income. • Promotion of healthy lifestyle to prevent or delay the onset of and manage chronic lifestyle diseases. • Intergenerational solidarity through men- torship programmes; and • Age-friendly training in the use of technol- ogy to enable participation in the digital world. The nation’s aspiration to a truly inclusive society in which no citizen is left behind re- quires partnership among all ages and groups of persons. I call upon corporate Jamaica, and particularly the financial sector, to be more in- strumental in adapting services that are more inclusive to and protective of senior citizens. We are aware of the social, economic and health risks facing senior citizens, even as they arebeingasked to complywith the stay-at-home order. Senior citizens are resilient people andwe are committed to strengthening their resilience. I urge all seniors to follow the guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Wellness and take personal responsibility for their safety. Sunday, September 27 will be celebrated as Grandparents’Day. Now,more thanever, families must recognise theessential roleof grandparents in the shaping of our homes, communities and our nation, and find creative ways to express appreciation during this pandemic. For the continued service to improving the lives of senior citizens, I commend corporate Jamaica, civil society, churches, communities and volunteers that continue to collaborate with the council to support the achievement of its mandate. We are stronger together. Happy Senior Citizens’Week! KARL SAMUDA, CD, MP Minister of Labour and Social Security ADVANCING CONTINUED FROM 11 III SENIOR CITIZE S’ WEEK T HE NATIONAL Council for Senior Citizens continues to play a vibrant role in the promotion and manage- ment of the care and healthy lifestyle of our senior citizens across Jamaica. THIS FUNCTION is particularly critical for those who have become more vulnerable in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and who are already forced to live in challeng- ing circumstances in their golden years. Even in spite of these challenges, these members continue to make meaningful and outstanding contributions to the de- velopment of our country. In many respects, we owe a debt of grat- itude to them for the progress we have made as a country. The dedication and hard work of these Jamaican stalwarts must never be forgotten. We must never forget that it is they who shouldered the weight of a progressive labour movement, which has defined the Jamaican society as we know it today. It is they who recreated and kept the engines of growth running for decades; many of themdoing so while raising strong families and giving a lifetime of exemplary service to their communities. Accordingly, as we take time to recognise and celebrate another year of service, we must salute those who have remained guardians of the principles of social justice and equality, and have always remained resilient and resolute in realising the vision of the new and better Jamaica that we all envision. With this in mind, we should not forget that there are many senior citizens who continue to struggle to meet their most basic needs, without pension and support We owe a debt of gratitude to seniors for the progress we have made as a country PLEASE SEE GRATITUDE , IV