Taking care of those who are less fortunate

Jan 20, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

In the 2024 Budget The Minister of Finance announced the construction of a facility to house the elderly or what I would call an “Elder Care Unit.” This is a commendable development and another chapter in government’s care and concern for its senior citizens. Our elderly are the foundation pillars in any society, they have served our country well and now, in their twilight years ought to be granted the privilege of enjoying a comfortable abode. Like the developed world, elder care forms an important part of the national calendar and in this regard a developing country such as Guyana we should not neglect our oldsters.

In the light of the above I would like us to turn our gaze on those our homeless people, or those whom we commonly call pavement dwellers, their numbers are growing every day and something should be done to address this situation. We cannot just turn our gaze away from those of our less fortunate and pretend that they do not exist, ours is the obligation to take care of them also, to neglect them would put a dark stain on our humanity. Being human means everyone that belongs to the race called human, its qualities that gives us the ability to love and have compassion.

I remember a home that was constructed to house these individuals at Onverwagt in West Coast of Berbice, Region 5. Built during The Jagdeo Government, The Hugo Chavez Facility was constructed for that purpose of taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves. The way that facility was run marks an indictment on the part of The PNC Led Coalition. We learnt that a crackhead was put in control of that home. To put a substance abuser in control of the destitute in society makes a bad situation worse and certainly shows one big leap backwards into the future. The Hugo Chavez Facility became a tragedy!

This should not be allowed to continue; we would like The Government to once again step in and take control of this home for the destitute, to show that we care as we continue on the road towards the development of a modern society that is just and equitable for all.

Respectably submitted,

Neil Adams

Elder Care Unit, Government, Guyana, Neil Adams, Taking care of those who are less fortunate

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