Dems reject ‘draconian’ elder protection bill

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has denounced proposed legislation to protect elderly people from abuse and neglect, labelling the bill an attempt to “criminalise desperation” rather than provide social support for the island’s ageing population.

​In a statement on Thursday, the DLP spokesperson for health and elder affairs, Felicia Dujon, expressed “grave concern” over provisions that would grant police sweeping authority, including the power to arrest individuals without a warrant and pursue them into private buildings if they are suspected of an offence under the law. ​ 

She described the Protection of Older Persons Bill as “draconian, excessive, dangerous, and deeply offensive to struggling Barbadian families”.

​“Instead of building stronger support systems for families… this government appears determined to police poverty and criminalise desperation.” 

With 16 per cent of the population now over the age of 65, the DLP said many families are providing care without State assistance while battling inflation and stagnant wages. What the government views as neglect is often “caregiver burnout” or a total lack of resources, it added.

​A major point of contention in the bill is the establishment of a mandatory registry for those convicted of elder abuse. The DLP suggested that prioritising this registry was ironic, while the country still lacks a fully functional registry for sex offenders.

​“It is astonishing and deeply troubling,” Dujon said, “that the government is moving with urgency to establish a registry for persons convicted of elder abuse offences while Barbados still does not have a comprehensive and functioning sex offenders registry to monitor individuals convicted of sexual crimes against women and children.”

​The party declared that while it did not condone elder abuse, the State’s priorities appear skewed. Dujon said: ​“The government is now preparing to establish what could become one of the first operational convicted offender registries in Barbados — not for rapists, not for child molesters… but for persons accused or convicted under elder abuse provisions, many of whom may themselves be relatives struggling under economic hardship.” ​ ​

The DLP also took the opportunity to highlight the new Geriatric Hospital.

​“We are now in 2026, and the public has received little to no meaningful update,” Dujon said, questioning why the administration prioritised “punitive” legislation over the completion of critical healthcare infrastructure.

​“Barbadians deserve support, compassion, and meaningful solutions,” Dujon said, “not blame, intimidation, and legislation designed to punish citizens who are already struggling to survive.”

Dems on Protection of Older Persons Bill – What to Know

The DLP is calling for an immediate pivot on the bill to protect the elderly from abuse, including:

• Withdraw or substantially amend the offending provisions 
• Remove excessive warrantless arrest powers
• Halt implementation of the proposed elder abuse registry pending broader national consultation
• Prioritise a comprehensive national sex offenders registry
• Expand investment in elder care institutions, caregiver support programmes
• Provide urgent public updates on the new Geriatric Hospital
• Increase financial and social support for families caring for elderly relatives at home
• Engage in genuine consultation with healthcare workers, caregivers, senior citizens, legal experts, and civil society before proceeding further 

(RR)