Minister Phipps says our senior citizens matter in official address to launch Month of Older Persons
By: Chaïra Flanders
Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 30, 2019 (ZIZ News): Minister of State with Responsibility for Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs, Hon Senator Wendy C. Phipps officially declared the Month of Older Persons open in an address to the nation on Monday September 30 2019.
During her address, Minister Phipps said reminded the public that as St. Kitts and Nevis celebrates the Month of Older Persons we must consistently remember that our senior citizens matter. She added that in this regard, it is our responsibility as a nation to properly care for the elders.
She said, “We must also remember that our people are now blessed with living longer than our ancestors did. We must ensure that senior citizens are properly cared for, and are given every opportunity to live their lives in a manner that maintains their dignity as human beings.”
The Social Services Minister added that in 2019, “the focus is on old age inequality with a commitment to ending it where it exists and preventing such practices in the future.”
She said in keeping with the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), St. Kitts and Nevis is one of the many UN Member states that will not tolerate age based discrimination.
“St. Kitts and Nevis – and all other UN Member States for that matter – are making the bold statement that discrimination based on age will never be tolerated, and that senior citizens have the right to economic, social and political inclusion in the life of their families, communities and countries”, Senator Phipps expressed.
She then used the opportunity to thanks and give recognition to all caregivers around the Federation for their dedication to caring for seniors, adding that “whether in a domestic or institutional setting, these caregivers can easily be taken for granted”.
International Day of Older Persons is observed on October 1st of each year. The month of activities run from Sunday September 29 to Thursday October 31.
This year’s International Day of Older Persons is being observed under the theme, “The Journey to Age Equality” with hash tag “60+ Counts”.