Tag: mental-health

Data Privacy Week: A Reminder to Protect What Matters

Charmaine Daniels, CEO Digicel Foundation

Every year, Data Privacy Week gives us a good reminder about something many of us
don’t think about daily: how much of our personal information is floating around online.
Most people have no idea how their digital activity is tracked, stored, or shared. And
honestly, it can be overwhelming. This week creates a moment for all of us to pause,
reflect, and take back control of our online footprint.


Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to join the Digicel Foundation team as we
visited schools across the island through our Safer Internet Together (SIT) programme
to provide interactive presentations about safe internet use. Being on the ground has
been eye‑opening. What our volunteers hear from students mirrors what I’ve seen
firsthand: children are sharing everything online.

Photos, their location, personal
updates, you name it. They jump onto platforms without thinking twice, and most aren’t
even aware that privacy settings exist, much less how to use them.
And the truth is, they are not being reckless on purpose. For them, the internet is just a
normal part of growing up. But the consequences of what they post can last much
longer than they realise.


We warn our children about so many dangers, but sometimes we forget to talk about
digital ones. The reality is that once something is online, it rarely disappears. That’s why
it’s so important for us as parents, guardians, teachers, and community leaders to help
guide them.

This is exactly why programmes like Safer Internet Together are so important. SIT takes
the conversation beyond the warnings and delivers real, practical, age-appropriate
solutions. We go into classrooms not just to tell children what not to do, but to show
them exactly how to protect themselves by using relatable examples from the apps and
platforms they use daily. We show them how to turn on their privacy settings, how to
recognise warning signs, what is safe to share, and what really should not be online at
all.
And the change in their attitude is almost immediate. You can see the lightbulbs go on
when they realise how one small decision today can affect them for years down the
road.

Here are a few of the tips we share with students that we can all use:

  1. Think before you post. Would you be okay with your teacher, future employer, or
    family seeing it?
  2. Check your privacy settings often. Apps update frequently, and defaults are not
    always in your favour.
  3. Don’t share personal information publicly. This includes your school, address,
    location, or daily routine.
  4. Use strong passwords and avoid using the same one for everything.
    Be careful with friend requests. Not everyone online is who they claim to be.

At the end of the day, our goal is to help young people enjoy the internet safely and
confidently. Data Privacy Week is a great reminder that we all have a role to play.
Remember to educate our children about data privacy and how to be S.M.A.R.T online.


S- Say kind things, don’t tease or send mean messages. Block or report someone who
is unkind.
M-Manage time online, take breaks and spend time offline playing or reading.
A- Ask for help from a parent or trusted adult if you feel unsafe.
R- Responsible – Think about your actions online. If you wouldn’t do it face to face, don’t
do it online.
T-Tell a teacher or parent if someone or something online makes you uncomfortable.

CCRP Collaborates with NCSC to Observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Angela Patterson, General Manager of the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP), addresses a group of seniors during the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The seminar was hosted by the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) at the Stella Maris Church Hall in Kingston on Friday, June 13, 2025.

CCRP, the seniors advocacy organization, joined forces with the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Friday, June 13, 2025. The forum, held at the Stella Maris Church Hall in Kingston, featured presentations from the NCSC, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and CCRP, focusing on abuse prevention, safety tips, and advocacy for improved quality of life for seniors.

Addressing the issue of elder protection, CCRP General Manager Mrs. Angela Patterson outlined key recommendations previously submitted to Parliament’s Special Select Committee regarding the proposed Elderly Care and Protection Act. “We recommend the establishment of a Commission for the Elderly, which would evolve from the current NCSC,” said Mrs. Patterson. “This Commission would be empowered to investigate and prosecute cases of abuse, as well as hold accountable organizations serving the elderly.” She emphasized that such legislation would not only protect today’s senior citizens, but also safeguard future generations.

Chairperson of the NCSC, Dr. Julian McKoy-Davis, underscored the importance of proactive planning in abuse prevention. She advised that developing and discussing care plans with trusted family and friends can help prevent neglect or mistreatment, especially in care homes. She also highlighted the impact of cultural norms and lifestyle habits on elder well-being, stressing the importance of maintaining positive mental health. In her closing remarks, Dr. McKoy-Davis urged mutual responsibility across generations: “Be your brother’s keeper: stay aware of the older adults around you.”

Deputy Superintendent Jacqueline Dillon of the JCF’s Domestic Violence Intervention Centres offered practical advice for ensuring the physical and financial safety of seniors. She noted that predictable routines often make elderly individuals more vulnerable to abuse and urged them to be vigilant and proactive about their security. “Many elderly persons become victims of abuse but are afraid to report it,” she said. “You have the right to protect yourself and we [the JCF] have a duty to protect you,” she asserted.

Following the presentations, attendees were invited to share their concerns, ask questions, and provide feedback. A plethora of issues continue to plague Jamaican seniors ranging from neglect to physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse, which underscores the need for greater care to be taken of this vulnerable group in the Jamaican society. 

A key concern raised during the event was the challenge seniors face with digital banking. One participant shared her distress in accessing her money, citing the frustration caused by the discontinuation of traditional bank books and the forced transition to digital platforms. She noted that service providers often question the competence and intellect of older clients, and highlighted the lack of senior-friendly facilities in many commercial spaces.

The CCRP remains committed to advocating for the rights of older adults and is pleased to collaborate with the NCSC to enhance the safety, dignity, and well-being of Jamaica’s senior citizens.

Wellness and Safety

A group of three senior women exercising together, jogging or power walking along a sidewalk in they are having fun, laughing.

Our CCRP members have complained about the lack of parks where they can safely exercise, so we are calling on the Ministry of Labour and Social Services to collaborate with the Ministry of Local Government to establish areas similar to Emancipation Park and Harmony Beach Park in every parish.

We are happy that a petition we circulated for the reopening of the Rockfort Mineral Bath, signed by over 2,500 people, helped to push the envelope for the good news we received this week. We are incredibly grateful to the Caribbean Cement Company for keeping communication open and for the generous features that they are adding to the costly renovation.

As we reflected on the dangers to elders living alone — fire and natural disasters — we are calling for a division of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management to serve the elderly in collaboration with NCSC, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

The Senate committee also heard excellent presentations from Sandra Latibeaudiere, lecturer and the section head/unit coordinator for the Social Work Programme at The University of the West Indies, Mona, and Dr Brian Kazaara, president of the Jamaica Association of Psychiatrists. Latibeaudiere noted that there is a 6 per cent prevalence of dementia in Jamaica, and with our growing elderly population, called for a National Dementia Plan. She mentioned depression as a worrying factor and recommended cognitive testing. She said the existing community health teams should be equipped with specialists to address these issues.

Dr Kazaara noted the importance of ethics, respect, patient autonomy, and advocacy. He said elderly patients should be allowed to speak for themselves and emphasised that dementia is not an inevitable condition for the elderly. He underlined the importance of cognitive testing and bemoaned the inequity of the delivery of services in rural areas.

In our CCRP outreach activities we see how woefully underserved our needy elderly are, many of whom live in volatile areas. We are grateful to DSP Natalie Palmer-Mair, Sergeant Jerr Johnson-Heron, and other kind officers for assisting in distributing our care packages to destitute elders.

This proposed legislation is everybody’s business. It will not only protect the elderly of the present, but also Jamaicans of all ages — the elderly of the future.