Minister of Labour and Social Security Shahine Robinson is appealing to Jamaicans to unite in stamping out the abuse of senior citizens, warning that those who persist in taking advantage of this vulnerable group will face harsher sanctions.

“I appeal to all Jamaicans to report the abuse of elders to the police or to the council (National Council for Senior Citizens). Those of you who are engaged in it, I say to you, publicly, desist from doing so because if it means that stiffer penalties will have to be imposed as a deterrent, so shall it be,” she declared yesterday during the launch of Senior Citizens Week at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston.

The week, which runs from Sunday, September 23 to Monday, October 1 under the theme ‘Forging Our Future: Embracing the Participation, Contribution and Talents of Older Persons’ will see a number of activities across the island celebrating the rights as well as the contributions of senior citizens (person 60 years and older).

Promising that the pending revised national policy for senior citizens will provide improved social-protection measures, Robinson underscored the need for a greater appreciation of the work and worth of senior citizens.

REVISED NAT’L POLICY

“The prosperity, progress, growth, and gains we are enjoying today have been made possible through the tremendous efforts and sacrifices of our seniors and elders across the island. Therefore, as I launch activities marking Senior Citizens Week, I must remind all Jamaicans that the abuse of our elders is of great concern to all decent and law-abiding citizens,” said Robinson.

The minister offered further insight into provisions of the revised national senior policy, which was tabled in Parliament this year, the Green Paper for which is available on the ministry’s and the Jamaica Information Service’s websites for review and comments.

“This policy will be the benchmark for establishing and maintaining a productive, healthy, and meaningful environment for our senior citizens. It is anticipated that Parliament, in the coming year, will complete the review of the policy, which will allow for social-protection measures that will redound to the benefit of our senior citizens all over Jamaica.”

The national church service to mark the official start of the week is slated to get under way today at 11 o’clock at the Ocho Rios Seventh-day Adventist Church, Milford Road, St Ann.

Source: Gleaner, Saturday, September 22, 2018.

Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica hosted its sixth (6^th) health and distribution fair in the western region from Wednesday, July 18 to Friday, July 20.  Residents from communities such as Torrington, Savanna-La-Mar, Hartford, Bath and Strathbogie benefited from free medical examinations and prescriptions while being served by a team of medical personnel including doctors, nurses and a pharmacist. Additionally, the fair included wheelchair assessment and distribution, an agricultural outreach in a remote community and a dental clinic for children.  Gift packages containing food, toiletries, agricultural items, children’s books and school’s supplies were also distributed over the period.

Rainforest Seafoods has extended its partnership with Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica by donating $1 million in cash and kind to aid in the construction of houses for the needy.

Speaking at the recent handing-over ceremony of a cheque, Roger Lyn, Director of Marketing & Corporate Affairs at Rainforest Seafoods expressed his happiness that the company could continue its support in helping FFP fulfil its mission.

“Having witnessed, first-hand, the happiness that recipients of the houses built by FFP-Jamaica expressed on receiving keys to their new homes, we were inspired to continue our partnership. This is an organisation that deserves everyone’s support as we all share in the mission of changing lives and restoring Jamaican families,” said Lyn.

Development and Marketing Manager at FFP-Jamaica, Marsha Burrell-Rose reminisced on how the partnership had impacted the life of one beneficiary.

“I will never forget the day when we stood with Rainforest management looking at the very first house that their partnership built. The lady came over and thanked us, telling us how she buys her fish at Rainforest. She felt proud knowing that a company that she supports was the same company that built her home,” said Burrell-Rose.

Lyn said that they were very proud of their ongoing collaboration with FFP-Jamaica and noted that, “it is truly a remarkable and transformative approach to helping those most in need and we know the money is going to good use.”

“We get so much from our community – this is a small way of giving back. We will continue to find creative ways of engaging the population, so they can contribute what they can, and we will definitely be on board next year as well,” said Lyn.

“We truly appreciate everything that Rainforest has done for FFP over the last few years. It truly is life-changing, and we can’t do it without you guys,” said Burrell-Rose as she urged ordinary Jamaicans to help their fellow Jamaicans by making small, monthly donations to FFP.

See article published by Loop Jamaica on Wednesday, September 12, 2018.

The Western Province of Papua New Guinea is looking towards a connected future as the PNG Sustainable Development Programme (PNGSDP) – along with its partner Digicel – implements a telecommunications vision to benefit present and future generations.

The PNGSDP is a fund that was established as a result of the ecological damage to the Western Province by the OK Tedi Mine, and is used for special projects in the area to meet the development needs of the citizens. The area has long been neglected, primarily due to the sparse population, however, in 2011 Digicel and PNGSDP worked together to deploy 49 telecommunications towers. Now, with that success to build on, this contract will see Digicel upgrading the towers, expanding coverage, deploying LTE and offering managed services.

This landmark agreement between PNGSDP and Digicel means the Western Province will benefit from 19 new telecommunications towers that will be owned by PNGSDP, new power generation units and LTE on 78 towers owned by Digicel and a seven-year managed service agreement to deliver operations and maintenance of the telecommunications services including internet bandwidth.

“This is a great partnership between Digicel and PNGSDP because, not only will we be able to provide increased access to services in the Western Province, but PNGSDP has also engaged with Digicel PNG Foundation to deploy schools to facilitate digital learning. In this way, we are bridging the gap to create a word where no one gets left behind”, said Digicel Group CEO, Alexander Matuschka.

The World Bank 2016 World Development Report shows a positive correlation between the increase in internet penetration and the gross domestic product in developing countries, and in PNG, the entire Western Province will soon have access to reliable 4G phone and internet service, creating an education knowledge network with app-driven learning, a foundation to deliver remote health solutions using LTE and, of course, increased coverage for existing mobile services.

With both organisations looking forward to changing lives for the better in the Western Province by providing the technological resources needed to make this happen, for its part, PNGSDP indicated that the partnership with Digicel is one it is glad to be part of, knowing that when Digicel commits to something it goes above and beyond to deliver.

Matuschka added, “In the education sector, distance learning in the more remote communities can be supported, teacher capabilities can be improved and classrooms can have better tools and access to world-class education. In the health sector, village-based and mobile paramedics can receive long-distance technical support with diagnostics, access to patient records and online advice. And in the business sector, with better connectivity, online financial services become available resulting in better opportunities for the banked and unbanked populations.”

Glenroy Anthony Smith, O.D. (better known as Ernie Smith) will bring musical joy and entertainment to participants and four honorees at the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) Living Legacy Awards 2018. The Awards Luncheon will take place on Friday, September 28, at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge, University of the West Indies Mona Campus, beginning at 12:00 noon. Dr. the Hon. Glen Christian, O.J., O.D., Joy Crooks, O.D., Dr. Owen James, O.D., and Dr. Jean Small will be honored at the event.

“As one of the first CCRP Living Legacy Award recipients [in 2012] I am looking forward to performing at this year’s event. CCRP continues to ensure that Jamaica remembers the legacy of our elders and I applaud them for it,” said the renowned singer, songwriter and musician with the mellow voice.

Born in Kingston in 1945, Ernie Smith grew up in the parish of St. Ann in a large musical family (he has eight siblings). After high school, he formed a singing group with four of his brothers and sisters. His singing and songwriting career took off when he recorded an original composition (“I Can’t Take It”) at Federal Records.

Smith’s professional music career went from strength to strength. He won Grand Prize at the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo with his song “Life Is Just For Living” – as the first Jamaican musician to win an international award. He was the first popular musician to be honored by the Jamaican Government with the Badge of Honour in 1973. He lived overseas for 13 years and was credited for popularizing reggae music in Canada.

Returning to Jamaica in 1988 after Hurricane Gilbert, Smith recalls watching people exchanging gifts and thanking God for life, instead of crying about their losses. He picked up his career as a highly successful solo artist. Last year he celebrated 50 years since his first recording, “I Can’t Take It,” with a Mass at the Bamboo Catholic Church, where he once served as an altar boy; and a “Solid Gold” concert in September 2017.

Ernie Smith has never stopped singing and playing. He has written over 200 songs and has received numerous awards at home and abroad, including a Bronze Musgrave Medal in 2003 and an Order of Distinction in 2006.

See original article posted in the Gleaner on Saturday, September 8, 2018.