Five of Nevis’ eldest residents recognised as part of the activities for International Month of Older Persons

NIA Charlestown Nevis – The Nevis Island Administration’s (NIA) Seniors Services Division on October 1, 2013, honoured five of the island’s seniors, the eldest from each parish, as a part of the activities for the United Nations (UN) International Month of Older Persons.

The five honourees, whose portraits will be displayed in various community centres around the island, were Herman Ward, 105, of St. John’s; Jane Canning, 103, of St. Paul’s; Celian Powell, 102, of St. George’s; Selena Ward, 101, of St. James’; and Alice Nisbett, 93, of St. Thomas’.

With a focus on the UN theme “The future we want: what older persons are saying,” the Seniors Services Division hosted a brief ceremony at the Flamboyant Nursing Home, during which the seniors received a self portrait which was done by Nevisian artist Vaughn Anslyn.

Permanent Secretary in the NIA’s Ministry of Social Development Keith Glasgow who registered the ceremony’s importance to the Ministry, noted that the Flamboyant Nursing Home—where Canning and Powell are residents—is evidence of the government’s love and commitment to ensuring that the island’s older persons receive institutional care that is second to none. He pointed to the friendliness of the staff and the comfortable, clean, and healthy environment for which the nursing home is known.

“Today, International Day of Older Persons, we are here at the Flamboyant Home to pay special attention and recognition, of course, to the oldest senior in each of our five parishes…The Nevis Island Administration places a very high priority on our older persons. We salute them. We especially salute them when we consider that they were the trailblazers; they laid the foundation for all of us here in Nevis.

“Our older persons would have toiled very hard, here in Nevis and further afield, and contributed to the overall development of this our dear land of ours. The truth is that we can’t repay them. We can never repay them. We hope that they know how much we value, appreciate and thank them,” he said.