BARP President Marilyn Rice-Bowen has issued the following statement to mark International Day of Older Persons, Sunday, October 01:
Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World
At BARP’s annual general meeting in July I reminded our members of the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, these were tumultuous times when the world faced world wars, cold wars, atomic bomb scares, global depressions, and witnessed the transformation of our beloved island from scattered villages to a sovereign nation.
All was not doom and gloom, there were heartwarming memories and character-building moments, but this world that we knew, and we were comfortable in is no more.
We are living in modern times when the days are shorter, and everything is at the touch of a button and at the speed of light. This can be disconcerting for some of us, who at times were at the forefront of change and who are now feeling left behind.
As I said then and I would repeat here now: Although those glorious years may be behind us, and the golden ones are upon us, we do not have to go gently into that good night. In fact, we are living in an era that offers us countless opportunities for us to age healthily and strong.
What we need to do is to draw on the tenets of our character, honed by the challenges of the early decades of our life.
Amidst all the challenges and uncertainties, there’s one characteristic that shines brightly among us, and that is RESILIENCE.
Our generations had no room for giving up or throwing in the towel; too many people depended on us, and failure was never an option. Although modern times have shown us that such unwavering determination may not always be the healthiest approach, it undeniably guided us on our paths, both as individuals and as a collective.
Resilience wasn’t explicitly taught to us; it was ingrained in our spirits, and we endured.
Endurance and adaptability go hand in hand. I encourage you to tap into that pioneering spirit that defined our era, for though those times have passed, the wisdom we gained remains timeless.
Therefore, let us not be dismayed by changes to how we do business with most transactions being done online. Instead, let us put those fears aside and learn how to confidently operate self-checkout counters, now being introduced in local supermarkets and automated border control systems at airports. And let us not be ashamed if we must ask for assistance where available.
As an Association which represents more than 20,000 seniors, we have embraced these changes and, in some instances, lobbied to have them tweaked to make our island home more user-friendly for our demographic, chief among them – the approval of a grant to start construction of our Member’s Business Center where BARP members can fill out passport and Visa applications and execute other online services they may have challenges with.
It will be the first member’s business center on the island!
Along with our partner FirstCaribbean bank we have hosted training for members to navigate the digital landscape, including ATMs and digital banking.
And yes, there is so much more to be done.
My fellow seniors on this International Day of Older Persons, I encourage you not to be disheartened by all that is happening around you; draw on that spirit of resilience which resides deep in you. Do what those of our generation do, and do well – be strong, be persistent, gather and overcome.
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you.
