Saint Jean calls for appreciation of the elderly

Residents of the Dominica Infirmary. Photo by dominicacompanies.com

Education Minister, Petter Saint Jean, has called on Dominicans to show appreciation for the elderly and to recognize the contributions they have made.

He was addressing a ceremony held at the Dominica Infirmary on Monday.

“It is important for us to attach some sense of importance to what contributions that our elderly citizens have made to our own national development,” he stated.

Saint Jean said some of these centenarians/elderly persons at the various institutions including the Dominica Infirmary have given a life of service to community and country.

He commended those who recognize that every elderly citizen deserves proper and adequate care and attention in their twilight years and pointed out that the government of Dominica by policy decision, has ensured that every home, including the infirmary, receives an annual subvention to assist in their operations.

“In addition to that, by policy decision, we have ensured that every citizen 70 years and above who does not have the financial means, is provided for with $300 a month,” he added. “And in fact you heard the Prime Minister during his independence address, spoke to a top-up of $200 this Christmas.”

In addition to that, Saint Jean believes that one of the most important facilities that government has put in place is the ‘Yes We Care’ Programme.

“Back in 2006, I think it was, we instituted the Yes We Care Program,” he said. “Of course many persons criticized it and even now, but the ‘Yes We Care’ has come to the aid and rescue of hundreds of our abandoned elderly citizens who have made a meaningful contribution.”

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

12 Comments

  1. Ibo France
    December 12, 2018

    We have to do a much better job of taking care of our most senior citizens. Society tends to abandon them like derelict vehicles. After so many years of back breaking work to pave the way for us we repay them with ingratitude. The government, the relatives, the society need to show these veterans of hard fought economic wars our sincerest appreciation. A country can be judged by the way it treats its animals, children and its senior citizens.

  2. World's Moistest Jheri Curl
    December 12, 2018

    Should Saint Jean be most concerned with our high drop out rate?
    That many young men are undereducated?
    That’s there’s no discernible trade school for those that did not graduate from secondary?
    That our rate of bachelor’s degrees is low in a developed society?
    Isn’t there another Minister to deal with issues concerning the “elderly?”

  3. viewsexpressed
    December 12, 2018

    St. Jean, Get lost please, you are a complete waste of time and worth nothing to be government. A Godly man you are and to sit aside and see and witness these bobolistic behavior going right in you face means that you are just a subject matter and not there in the interest of Dominica and Dominicans.
    A Godly person like you for years engaged and welcome a corrupt Labour party and at the same time you want to embrace God and the bible while your government practice Satanic behavior in Government? Where are you sir, on whose side to you preach, Satan or God or his people, or is the 18 disciplines devilish disciplines engaged and are blind of the obvious open eyes corruption going on in our country. Jesus sacrifice and died cleans, while you guys stay to benefits from satanic and worldly good. Shane on you and your corrupt Labour Government. Skerrit Must go and you hopeless blind followers must go too. Good bye. Get Lost.

  4. viewsexpressed
    December 12, 2018

    Education Minister, Petter Saint Jean, has called on Dominicans to show appreciation for the elderly and to recognize the contributions they have made.. This statement should read as follows: Here goes:
    Education Minister, Petter Saint Jean, has called on His Skerrit and his corrupt Labour Government to show appreciation for Dominicans, those in poverty created his corrupt Labour government and the elderly and to recognize the contributions professionals have made and continues to make to the development of Dominica.
    Skerrit |Must Go….Petta St. Jean Must Go… Corrupt Labour Government Must Go

    • Lianthia Joseph
      December 12, 2018

      Oh you disgruntled client. How long will it take you to do your work. You just took on a position and you wanted to be appointed in it and you were not so you bitter. You suppose to be a Christian too, but for you is when it suits you. You playing church too. Now you want to play Politics. You say you Christian , go look for your husband and reconcile with him . Shame on you.

      • viewsexpressed
        December 13, 2018

        What on earth is this clown Lianthia talking about? Anyone knows…? Please clarify. What is the reference, what is the message. ?
        Our country is in a state of poverty, high corruption, over sized ministers, poor people need quality resources, youth in need of jobs and momentum and training to build up Dominica, and we have this clown Skerrit hopping hipping all over the world wasting states money and talking unprofessional jargon to the people of Domininca. Well we within the service know the limitation and political illiteracy of Skerrit, He is a failed PM, the worst seen in Domininca. This clown PM must and take your corrupt Labour government with you. Shame on you all.
        Skerrit must Go….Get out….Get lost. Shamelful

  5. Briow
    December 12, 2018

    What hurts me the most is when the elderly are abandoned by their children and these are people with more than 1 child or their children are living sweet life. Take responsibility for your elders, people. These are people who broke back and neck for you.

    • World's Moistest Jheri Curl
      December 12, 2018

      Not all parents were kind to their child(ren)
      I’ve seen parents publicly humiliate and abuse their off-spring
      I do not blame anyone that abandons their parents as adults
      because I am not aware of their home lives as minors

      • BrioW
        December 13, 2018

        Yah I understand that but check that eh, a lot of time, you know those that were abuse turn back and check their parent? My father take care of my grandfather and the man died saying my father not his and treating him bad. Country I from so I seeing that often. And those their parents actually break their back to take care of, they in Guadeloupe, St. Thomas, Antigua and America and not a dime they sending for their parents, not even a phone call and then Yes We Care have to take care of them people. Then when people call them out, they saying things hard for them, how we think things easy, always the same song with all of them. When their parents pass now, they in their shades, crying. Me self what I have belongs to my parents because what they had belonged to me.

  6. JAH KAL
    December 12, 2018

    St Jean u sound like you desparate time to go you and your goons don’t parade the elderly on TV and make beleive u helping them. Peolpe like u have to answer to the masses time will tell. ( U SKERRIT AND THE GOONS MUST GO. )

  7. jamie
    December 12, 2018

    Partner practice what you preach,Dominica needs prayers and to be free from the regime your part of.

  8. %
    December 12, 2018

    Your administration never respected the elderly, so stop your hogwash and crass hypocrisy..You all DLP devil’s and MISLEADERS paraded the elderlies on TV dressed in red,saying “”Thank God For Skerrit”,whenever these elderlies got help from the state …Wicked Leaders ..You all humiliated them,broke down their dignity.So you are an accomplished hypocrite,shut up!!!
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available