Elderly advocacy organisation, the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP), is condemning the cruel fire-bombing of a community in Gregory Park, St Catherine which has claimed the life of 72-year-old Naomi Gocul.
The CCRP, in a statement on Tuesday (August 22), indicated that Gocul, also affectionately known as ‘Miss Sweeney’ was seriously injured in the brutal attack which left another resident dead and several others hospitalised.
She succumbed to her injuries, leaving the wider community grieving and distressed. Neighbours remembered her kindness while Member of Parliament for East Central St Catherine Alando Terrelonge recalled that she was a devout Christian.
“CCRP demands justice for Miss Gocul and the victims of this heinous act. For a woman of such faith and generosity to face such horrific suffering is a sad commentary on the level to which some of our citizens have sunk,” the entity remarked.
“Our elders are constantly in fear, some facing extreme loneliness, especially those who live in violence-prone communities.
“Our elders deserve to live in peace, after many years of service to their communities, families, and organisations, but instead they are facing gang violence and marginalisation, amongst many other daily struggles,” the CCRP added.
The Jean Lowrie-Chin founded CCRP says it saddened by tragedy and called on supporting stakeholders to create a safer environment for Jamaica’s vulnerable elders.
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