Growing old in Guyana

Demography, Control – and image

Two tiny introductory points:  It was once advanced that a stranger could judge a new society after a little while, by how that society treats its books, treats its animals and treats its old people.  Secondly, I wanted to title this piece “Old boys and old girls of Guyana”.  Forget that though.

I suppose I qualify now to be categorized as a “young” senior citizen, nearing that “Christian mile-post of seventy, as I seem to be. (I’ve strong reservations about making it anyhow…)  Related to age, tolerance, expectations and frustration, my senior-citizen-related disposition has me lamenting the socio-economic status of our citizens and the State, generally.

I concede that too often my “age-related” impatience drives me to, despairingly, criticize the consequences of the country’s decades-long shoddy governance and mis-management.  Our older, honest senior citizens would agree that whenever they witness some new national achievement, that enterprise or project should have been reality some thirty years ago.

Growing old in Guyana

So as with our plunging standards and levels with respect to civility, respect for authority, management of the Capital City, public transportation, prevention and/or prosecution of executive corruption – you name it if you’re over sixty – let me share my observations – and worry – regarding Guyana ‘s Golden Neglected Citizens.

Whilst I appreciate the recent journalistic contributions of Columnist Henry Jeffrey – former PNC ideologue- teacher and former PPP/C Minister of Many Portfolios, discussing the principles and objectives of various United Nations Conventions and Decrees on aging,  I focus on the rugged realities of getting old, post-sixty, post-seventy, in this land.

Whether teacher, tradesman, home-maker or horticulturist, seamstress or stenographer, cane-harvester or consultant, public servant or painter, today’s over-sixty, over-seventy citizen, most likely laboured for some forty or fifty years, contributing to community and/or national development.  In other respectable , respectful, social-welfare societies these older citizens are now treasured citizens. Still to be regarded and utilized in appropriate manner.

But here? “Old age” can begin at 55, at 60 or 65. It depends on the regulations, the convention or how some employer feels.  The retired Guyanese, generally, is then made to feel  “redundant” at most levels; a humbug or “loved-one” best-seen, little-heard; one whose years of service tend to be forgotten and who barely deserves the pensions usually eked out.  How do younger relatives view their fore-bears? If the old folks deserve safety-nets are there appropriate “Homes” in this caring society?

Guyana’s “elderly” Commission
Now, reflect for a few seconds on the two questions above.  Then, realize that we are great on constituting commissions!

What?  You’ve missed it?  That we have a still-new National Commission on the Elderly? And would you believe me when I state that I did not realize that this October month is the “older persons” month?  Actually, this past Sunday was the International  “Day” for old folks.

The Social Security/Human Services Ministry along with the new Commission held a function with interesting themes.”Young or Old, We’re all part of the same Mould/Longevity:  Shaping The Future”.

The objectives of the National Commission are noble, but as usual, only aspirational. Great on paper: ensuring minimum standards for Old Folks Retirement Homes (Shelters); accessing public transportation, other services; advocating concessions and assistance for seniors who must use the banks, the Passport Office, legal assistance agencies and related quality-of-life support.

From the Capital to Corriverton, when I contemplate the implications and consequences of longevity here as against the comforts of both Retirement Home and Pavement, I conclude that  much more is necessary in a hurry. Sometimes too, funding is not all.

Policies on the old and aging must be swiftly refined and implemented.  Justice Trotman, the Commission’s Chairman will not be the one to head a toothless, paper Commission. So I volunteer to join him in executing a few of the following now: finding friendly international affiliates to support the local  commission; strategizing for a Private-Sector-friendly meals-on-wheels pilot project to  serve a pioneer 40-member group of needy elders; establishing a one-stop assistance agency to process official documents for over-seventies and certain conditions and finding a panel of Ten Friendly doctors to attend to selected shut-ins.  (Just for Starters!)
What about you, younger Citizen? Can you find a twenty-something to adopt a seventy plus Golden Girl? Discuss.

The Image(s) I see
I concede up front. The problem could be with me.  I’ll expound and you decide.

First I read the letters by Elizabeth Deane-Hughes regarding “the photographic images” initially used to promote awareness of the current national Census.  (She had reservations about the choice of a one-ethnicity portrayal and all the perceptions and implications that one picture might have portrayed.)

Second, I smirked when I saw the Street banners selling GuyExpo 2012.  Emblazoned thereon were the smiling faces of the President and his young Gung-ho Minister Irfaan.  What about the people and the Private-Sector participants, I thought, then wondered.

Sure the demography of this challenged population – (We should actually be some two million even with the migration of the last three decades) – tends to indicate thousands of Indo- Guyanese more then the “others”, but it is not actually so, the very census 2012 will show.

The numbers defining our demographics are prone to be manipulated by many, at times – – election campaign strategists, importers, educational authorities, even religious folk. In a word, let’s hope that there will come a day when Guyana’s leaders won’t have to be always “ethnic specific”
But oh my! Apart from the “ministerial” photos, presence and image at GuyExpo, I saw the usual expected commercial /industrial control by Guyanese of Indian descent.  Ninety-five percent of the persons who owned the booths and the businesses were owned by you know who!  Guyana’s destiny?  Are some destined to be owners and others bound to be consumers? Discuss…

Ponder
*1)  I did not know that this is Older Persons Month and am now told that a 65-year old just assaulted his landlord, grievously. Naughty!
*2)  So, at last, there is to be a structured approach at involving the Guyanese Diaspora in the native land’s development.

*3)  Please companies/stores et al:  Put aside a budget for Mashramani 2013. Since 2013 February is also the 250th Anniversary of the 1763 Berbice Slave Rebellion, there must be that dimension  to the Republican Anniversary next year.  Any ideas, fellow-citizens?

Til next week!
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