MP calls for improved care for the elderly at St Michael North Christmas luncheon

A special Christmas luncheon hosted for senior citizens in St Michael North on Sunday also served as a call for Barbadians to recommit to caring for the elderly. Member of Parliament Davidson Ishmael urged communities to reverse what he described as a decline in the island’s traditional spirit of looking after older people.

Ishmael said the luncheon was deliberately centred on senior citizens as a gesture of appreciation for their contribution to the country’s development.

“I’m very happy to be here hosting some of my constituents at our Christmas luncheon. We have focused primarily on our senior citizens, not exclusively, but primarily on them, because we believe that they are our nation’s builders,” he said during the luncheon held at the Soroptimist Senior Citizens Village in Eden Lodge, St Michael.

He said those gathered represented a generation that had given decades of service to Barbados.

“They are the ones who would have given us, of their service, of their life, in many cases, their blood and their sweat, to be able to build this Barbados that we have today in 2025, so I always think it is important for us to recognise them,” Ishmael said, adding that recognition must be matched by action.

“It is very important for us to understand and recognise that we need to take better care of our elderly persons in our communities.”

The St Michael North MP said the concern extended beyond the Christmas season, pointing to changes in social behaviour over time.

“We have seen unfortunately over the years a decline in the caring spirit and nature we have become accustomed to here in Barbados, where people took care of one another, looked after each other, even within communities, persons looked out for the elderly persons within their communities, but unfortunately over the years we’ve seen a decline and a deterioration in this regard,” he said.

Using the occasion to make a broader national appeal, Ishmael said the treatment of older citizens should be a priority.

“Even as we are celebrating our elderly here today, if I could say anything to the nation, it would be that we should honour, respect, and take better care of our elderly. We should not abandon them at all, whether in the home or anyplace else. We should not allow them to suffer in any way, and we should make sure that they are taken care of as best as possible,” he said.

The luncheon catered to scores of people. “We’re catering right now to about 150 persons, and there are more that are due to come. So right now we’re in a good standing, and we’re expecting to see a lot more persons come through…after church,” Ishmael said.

He said the event was organised by the St Michael North branch team as a way of giving back to constituents, particularly senior citizens.

“It is a luncheon that we have put together as a team to really just give a little bit back to you, the constituents of St Michael North, especially our senior citizens, and it’s very important for us to give honour to you guys.”

Describing the occasion as both celebratory and reflective, Ishmael said the Christmas season provided an opportunity for togetherness across generations. (SZB)