#BTSpeakingOut – Good work by the NAB

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados TODAY Inc.

by John Goddard

Today, I am pleased to offer kudos to Minister of Elder Affairs and People Empowerment, Cynthia Forde, Chairman of the National Assistance Board, Dr Sonia Browne, Co-ordinator of the Companion Programme, George Griffith, as well as the directors and staff of the NAB for the good work they are doing with the elderly in Barbados.

Knowing Ms Forde, Dr Browne and Mr Griffith, I am not surprised that they have been going all out to ensure that our senior folk are well taken care of. They are being called upon to operate in circumstances in which too many Barbadians neglect and even abuse their elderly relatives.

Given the increasing number of people suffering from different forms of dementia, we know that caring for old family members is not easy.

However, that cannot explain why children and grandchildren of the elderly steal their pension, shut them up in a room, hide their medication, refuse to help them meet their polyclinic or private doctor’s appointment, and, generally, abandon them.

Too often, it is left to the village postmen and women and neighbours to offer a helping hand to older Barbadians whose hard work and sacrifice contributed significantly to the Barbados we enjoy today.

Ingratitude and lack of compassion have become common characteristics of many of our younger people.

Hurricane Elsa revealed the poor quality of housing in our country.

From observation, quite a few of such houses were occupied by senior citizens. I wish to suggest to Minister Forde, Chairman Browne and Co-ordinator Griffith that they encourage government to work with the private sector, religious organisations, non-governmental groups, artisans and other willing individuals to improve the housing stock, with special emphasis on homes for vulnerable persons like the elderly. Such homes should be fully equipped with indoor plumbing facilities and electricity.

In 21st century Barbados, we should not have old folk, indeed any citizen, feeling their way outside to use toilets or pipes in the yard.

Too many politicians have vowed to correct these deficiencies, but alas, have fallen short when the time came for action. Minister Forde, as a senior member of cabinet, you have the opportunity to lead the fight to remedy this situation.

While Minister Forde, Dr Browne and Mr Griffith are at it, they might consider urging their government to abolish or significantly reduce the income taxes paid by pensioners, some of whom find themselves having to pay over $1500 annually.

Many of these pensioners paid large sums of taxes during their working lives, and should not be required, in the evening of their days, to pay taxes from the only source of income they have. More disposable income in the hands of pensioners is likely to be spent on food, home repairs and medical care.

The latter would be a saving to the treasury since pensioners are likely to seek the services of private doctors rather than crowd the overburdened polyclinics and the outpatient clinic of the QEH.

Social justice demands that we work hard to improve the quality of life of the elderly segment of our population.

John Goddard, retired but always an educator.