A call for social services to replace its one-size-fits-all approach, an appeal for assisted living facilities for disabled persons left with the Child Care Board into adulthood and tough penalties for those who abuse or neglect the elderly featured in the maiden speech of Government Senator Shanika Roberts-Odle in the Upper House on Monday.
Contributing to debate on the Appropriation Bill, 2022, Senator Roberts-Odle welcomed the amalgamation of the departments providing social services in Barbados into a single agency, the Department of Family and Children Services under the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs.
She said she believes it will not only relieve persons of the burden of going from agency to agency to get assistance but will also identify those who currently abuse the social services.
Senator Roberts-Odle expressed the hope that this new agency – which will include the Welfare Department, the National Assistance Board, the Child Care Board and the National Disability Unit – will bring about the needed transformation, as she also insisted that its approach must be tailored to meet the needs of individual families.
“I want to see social services move away from a onesize-fits-all mentality. I want to see them address the unique needs of each individual family and bring the entire resources of the Ministry to bear,” she said.
“I want to see a level of dignity and care brought back to the system and that change does not just happen in the ministry, that change happens in the hearts and minds of Barbadians, because we must understand that needing help is not a weakness and because you are down, does not mean you are out.”
Noting that many cases of persons in need are only brought to light in the media, Senator Roberts-Odle urged residents to look out for each other.
“I want to ask Barbadians as we go about our daily lives that we remember that we are in fact our brother’s keeper, that we advocate for our fellow man, that we advocate within families, that we advocate towards ministries, that we advocate wherever is possible because we are in this together,” she said.
The Government senator also called for long-term assistance for disabled persons who are left in the care of the Child Care Board (CCB) into adulthood.
She suggested that more can be done to help them to live independently.
“I believe that we have to look into some kind of assisted living facility so they can live in adulthood but still have care provided for them. They deserve that, so I want to ask that the Ministry look into this,” Senator Roberts-Odle said.
Acknowledging the Ministry’s plan to develop a National Policy on Aging and Elder Affairs and introduce legislation to protect senior citizens, Senator Roberts-Odle also called for harsh punishment for those who neglect or abuse the elderly.
“I hope that this new piece of legislation features and addresses abuse not only in physical form, but in economic form, psychological and emotional form, and that it provides not only fines but custodial sentences where it is deemed necessary. Our elderly needs to be cared for,” she insisting.
During her contribution, Senator Roberts-Odle also spoke eloquently about the difference the education system has made in the lives of many Barbadians, including hers. (DP)
