A Welfare Official has described claims that Dominica is a welfare state as ‘unfortunate’ pointing out that assistance given to the needy have impacted positively on their lives.
Acting Assistant Chief Welfare Officer of the Social Welfare Division, Oliver Wallace, made the remarks during a press conference on Monday ahead of World Mental Health Day to be observed on Thursday.
“Let me make it clear that I would like to say to some who say we have a welfare state; it is unfortunate that persons think that way because it’s practically important to have a social welfare program in any state,” he said.
According to Wallace, everyone is not going to be on the same level and social protection plays a key role in assisting those in need. One of the programs which plays a key role, he said, is the Social Welfare Program which “is continuing to make a great impact on the lives of some of our elderly who are not as fortunate as others…”
He said the program is being supported by the government and he wants to see a continuation of this “so that life can be made much better for these elderly.”
He also called on society to understand that interaction with older people can boost their self-worth and give them a sense of belonging.
“It is important to understand that these persons have made a significant contribution to our society, and we would like to really appeal to our people out there to understand that how you interact with the elderly can boost their own personal dignity and let them feel that they belong, which is one thing that every one of us look forward to; a very important aspect of life,” Wallace said.
Speaking at the same press conference, Consultant Psychiatric, Dr. Griffin Benjamin, said mental health is a critical component for one’s well being.
“Mental health is critical for overall well being …. without good mental health the quality of your life is not going to be good,” he said. “So the world is paying attention to the need for society to improve on their mental health. The mental health of older persons can easily be disturbed however at this critical stage of 60 years”.
Benjamin mentioned that mental health among the elderly it is a growing concern because, “persons who have reached the age of 60 years and above are now seemingly living different lives than their predecessors, we realize that persons who reach the age of 60 are no longer aging gracefully or simply aging gracefully or retiring from work, they are now intent on aging successfully”.
World Mental Health day will be observed under the theme ‘Mental Health and older persons’ on Thursday 10th October 2013.
if anybody in the world considers DA as a welfare state then they do not know DA because for me personely and for the people i know,in DA the only thing this goverment gives you is a bill for 15% tax on everything our little money buys,
He has yet to mention the name of the social welfare program that the Gov’t supports. Well Sir, if for some strange reason you’re referring to the RED CLINIC, It is not a Gov’t sponsored welfare program. These handouts are single handedly managed by Skerrit.
What are the social welfare programmes mister talking about dere noh? Is there a programme with rules and methods of assessing need and ways of helping people to get off handouts?
Do you see how people who are in the public service and who should be impartial come out to show their partisan affiliations. Acting Assistant Chief Welfare Officer of the Social Welfare Division, Oliver Wallace, has failed to mention the ‘Red Clinic’ managed from the Prime Minister’s pocket in his entire response! Of course social welfare is a necessary provision in a poor country like ours. No one in Dominica has a problem with social welfare. We have a problem with mismanagement, lack of accountability, fraud and corruption. Where is the oversight and audit of the ‘Red Clinic’ Acting Assistant Chief Welfare Officer of the Social Welfare Division, Oliver Wallace? I guess now that you have sang for your supper you will move from ‘Acting’ to ‘Permanent’ now, only Dominica suffers while you all do well. Enjoy the last supper!
ALL OF THESE MEN ARE FULL OF TRICKS
Agreed Mr. Wallace we all are not on the same level, but I would not call what I see going on in Dominica welfare; maybe what’s going on through your office. When I go to pick up my food stamps in the US and my welfare cheque I do not see president Obama. What you should be doing is asking the PM to put what he dishing out, up in his office in your institutions coffers to be given out in a responsible and accountable manner.
Mr. Wallace we the People are pissed at the PM for passing out LPO’s on Sunday afternoon in Portsmouth to the People of Glanvilia and Lagon who are trying to acquire land for building their own homes .Land they believe was supposed to go to them .This is as dirty and underhanded as it gets
Is not that we talking about but the Red Clinic the PM running in the financial centre that is the kind of welfare we are talking about.
r. Wallace, you have stood on the side of the ageing population for quite some time. Perhaps, the majority of the population does not quite fully understand this because D/ca is a young society and time to worry about becoming senile or just ageingis not an issue yet. I am with you Sir. l am concerned with the need for a better society, that we will prepare for those over sixty, that good mental health begins, and does not stop when someone reaches sixty. Certainly, there programs that are there to stave off problems associated with ageing but the important thing is, with time, everyone will win. Keep on doing your job. Our prayers are with you.
Oliver you know jetma bien is red clinic the people talking about and not welfare per se
I can’t recall anyone criticizing a social welfare program that genuinely takes care of the people who are genuinely in need. Way before Roosevelt Skerrit our country had been taking care of the less fortunate.
What I do criticize and I believe others have is the Red clinic program ; the vote buying schemes; thewilli Nilli issuance of IPO’s etc by politicians. If our taxes are going to beused to help the less fortunate at least show us the tax payers that our hard earn income is used in a responsible and non partisan way.
The idea of the red clinic and the way it is done is sickening and demeaning to tax payers and even the Red Clinic patients.
How do we grow when we wont listen to constructive criticism or we willfully avoid the truth by creating smoke screens.
Mr Wallace our problem is not about Dominica having a social Welfare program it is about the mental capability of the politicians who have hijacked the program for their own personal objectives.
When will these men who arecharged with such responsibility start speaking for dominica as oppose to speaking for roosevelt Skerrit. The same lamentation applies to the director of audit who made a complete fool of himself by promising to talk to Matt and then ran away when he heard that dr Thomson fontaine was present-be a man a step up to the plate to bat for your country. If you are only prepared to step up to the plate to bat for bookies and the mafia then you have sold your will and conviction to gamblers and deceivers