Lancaster House to reopen

THE Government project which provides temporary housing for disaster victims has been upgraded and is fully available to the public once again.

Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development Steven Blackett, reported that on Wednesday, in observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, his Ministry and the National Assistance Board (NAB) will officially reopen Lancaster House, Lancaster, St James.

“Although in operation since August 2015, Lancaster House is designed to provide safe, temporary housing solution for older persons at risk of being homeless due to eviction, man-made, or natural disasters,” he said.

With the assistance of a Bds$35 000 donation from the People’s Republic of China, upgrades started on the House last August.

Blackett was speaking at the Whitepark Wesleyan Holiness Church, Whitepark Road, St Michael, yesterday, where a service was held to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

The Minister also indicated that this year’s theme underscores the importance of preventing financial exploitation in the context of elder abuse. In keeping with the Madrid International Plan for Action on Ageing, older persons have the rightto a life of dignity as they age, free of all forms of abuse, including financial and material exploitation which could lead to poverty, hunger, homelessness, compromised health and well-being and even premature mortality.
(AH)