NAB gifted 15-seater van by The Maria Holder Memorial Trust

The National Assistance Board (NAB) now has a new 15-seater Toyota van added to their fleet thanks to an early Christmas gesture from The Maria Holder Memorial Trust.

Christopher Holder, Chairman of that trust addressed recipients from the NAB, officials from the Ministry of People Empowerment and the fourth estate at the NAB’s Lancaster House facility.

According to Holder, apart from the vehicle worth a tad over $150 000, The Maria Holder Memorial Trust would also assist in the refurbishment of the Jorris Dunner Elderly Day Care Centre in the Pine.

Holder added he wished this van would be “heavily utilised” and exhorted NAB staffers to “take great care of it”.

The Chairman also observed it’s important to do more to take care of family and friends, not only for Christmas but at all times.

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, also noted the need for better care of the elderly, pointing out how the average Barbadian in less than two decades would be 60.

“We have to find a way to retool our society if elderly wish to continue to work, we also need to retool our caregivers in terms of emerging cases of dementia and Alzheimer’s, we need to have a conversation with young Barbadians for care and respect of the elderly.”

the Minister’s comment referred to a spate of robberies on Thursday where older Barbadians were targeted. Minister Humphrey urged everyone, regardless of age, to be extra careful this holiday season.

The 15-seater Toyota van was purchased from Nassco Motors and will be used not only to collect NAB staff, but also to transport senior Barbadians with transportation challenges to use the Lancaster hospice’s services more easily.

(PR)