Seniors Urged to Assist Moral and Ethics Revival

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson, is calling on senior citizens to pass on good morals and ethics to the youth in Jamaica.

“Jamaica is in need of a revival. We have become so crass, so boorish [and] so rude. It is just the roof that is leaking and we know that with your help we can put a stop to the leakage and turn Jamaica around. Jamaica’s future is in your hands no matter how old you think [you are] because you have the right values, the right ethics to pass on to the children and the young people today,” she said.

She was delivering her keynote address at the media launch of Senior Citizens’ Week on Tuesday (September 20) at the Church of God in Jamaica Auditorium, in Kingston.

Minister Robinson pointed out that intergenerational relationships provide benefits for seniors and the youth. For the young people it teaches tolerance, forgiveness, respect and care, while for seniors it lessens depression, improves physical health and provides a higher degree of life satisfaction.

She said it is important that Jamaica builds a society where seniors are respected, assisted and valued so that “later in life, when we, hopefully, become seniors ourselves, we will benefit from the inclusivity, responsiveness and engagement we’ve nurtured”.

Minister Robinson thanked the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) for serving the elderly with distinction over the past 40 years and urged Jamaicans to support the work of the Council through volunteerism.

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Dione Jennings, and Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons, Dorrett Linton, brought greetings at the function.

Senior Citizens’ Week is being observed from September 25 to October 1 under the theme ‘Showcasing Our Legacy – Promoting Intergenerational Solidarity’.

The week of activities will begin with a service at the Kingston Parish Church and the observance of Grandparents’ Day.

On September 27, NCSC in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of North St. Andrew will host a Garden Party at the Hope Botanical Gardens; while community outreach and recreational trips have been planned for September 28.

Parish awards functions will be held on September 29, and Parish Exhibition Day on September 30.

The week will culminate on International Day of Older Persons on October 1 with an Evening of Entertainment at The Mico University Auditorium.

The NCSC will participate in National Tree Planting Day activities on October 7, being spearheaded by the Forestry Department.