Dr. David Durant: Punish perpetrators
A Senior Pastor is calling on the authorities to start making examples of the culprits who mistreat the elderly.
Dr. David Durant believes that this might be the only way to tackle the abuse, financial exploitation and neglect of older persons in our society, which is getting worst.
His comments came on the sidelines of Restoration Ministries Annual Senior Citizens Christmas Luncheon.
“One of the things that hurt me is that I have seen, and from reports I am getting is the increase level of exploitation among the elderly – this is bothering me,” said the concerned former Chairman of the National Assistance Board (NAB).
“I don’t know if it’s because of the social media, but more and more people are coming forward. There is a lot of exploitation of the elderly – financial, abuse, neglect. Some have things being signed over under duress and then they are left at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital abandoned. They are carried to the Geriatric Hospital and receive no visits from family members. They are put out of their homes by their children – that hurts me.”
“I am hoping that somebody can be made an example and put before the Law Courts and if they have to serve time for this level of treatment to the elderly, let it be done, so at least that can act as an deterrent to others who continually mistreat the elderly,” he suggested.
Pastor Durant is therefore pleading with Barbadians to protect, look out and care for the country’s most vulnerable group, expressing, “To me, every person regardless of how old they are ought to be given the opportunity to age with dignity, respect; they should be shown that love and attention by family members especially.”
Moreover, he recognised that Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Cynthia Forde, is also concerned.
“Even before she became Minister over the elderly, she would call me when I was Chairman and express concern. And I would hope that we will have stronger legislation… you have things there on the cards already for the care of the elderly, but it needs to be implemented – our words now need to become action.”
The luncheon hosted at the Church’s Brittons Hill, St. Michael location brought together seniors throughout the community and beyond from the Clyde Gollop Shelter, Vauxhall Senior Citizens Village, Barbados Amputee Rehabilitation and Enabling Society, Jorris Dunner Elderly Day Care Centre, Geriatric Hospital, Barbados Society for the Blind and Deaf, among others. (TL)