Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 23, 2017 (SKNIS): An island-wide motorcade will cap off the celebrations marking the Month of Older Persons slated for Sunday, October 29.
Mrs. Ann Wigley, Deputy Director for the Department of Social Services and Community Development, noted that the seniors are very excited about the upcoming motorcade, as it provides an opportunity to explore the island and see different villages and historic sites that they may not have seen in a while. The Motorcade will start at 1:00 p.m. on the Bay Road continuing west through the island.
“Going through the island is a treat for them,” she further noted.
Mrs. Wigley said that the month of activities has so far included a commencement church service at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on October 01, Elderly Spa Days every Thursday throughout the month, and an Elderly Fun Day at Frigate Bay on October 19. The seniors participated in football, cricket and a dance–a–thon at the Fun Day. The home visits and Elderly Movie Day scheduled for October have been postponed until the first week in November.
Mrs. Wigley stated that the month of activities has been going extremely well and has been a delight for both the participants and the department. She mentioned that the seniors particularly enjoyed taking the trip to Nevis to participate in the Seniors Parade held on Friday, October 06.
“The Month of Older Persons has been very successful so far and we are thanking all those who have assisted,” stated Mrs. Wigley, while extending special thanks to Mr. Glenroy Skeete, the operator of the Sea Hustler vessel, who provided discounted fares for the seniors’ day trip to Nevis. She also thanked Mervin Sage, a videographer at the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS), who captured footage from the month’s events for an SKNIS programme that will recap the month of activities. The programme is slated to air in early November.
“I am appealing to the public to work with us to make the seniors comfortable in their latter days. It’s not just about one month. We are trying to do it throughout the year,” stated Mrs. Wigley, explaining that there are quite a bit of resources that go into the care of older persons. She noted that the department will accept any support to assist with its initiative to take care of the senior citizens in the community.
Mrs. Wigley extended an invitation to the general public to come out and participate in the Motorcade to mark the closing of the month of activities.
The Month of Older Persons is celebrated every October 1 to 31. The theme for this year is “Stepping into the Future. Tapping the Talents, Contribution and Participation of Older Persons in Society.” This month is dedicated to the aging generation in the federation, to ensure that they are recognized and acknowledged for their contributions to the advancement of society.
