The Tribune

PEOPLE who abuse the elderly in The Bahamsas will soon come under “the long arm of the law” as protective legislation moves closer, Social Services and Community Development Minister Melanie Griffin said yesterday.

Mrs Griffin paid tribute to the late Juliette Barnwell, who served as Chairperson of the National Council on Older Persons, for her role in researching and preparing information for the “Rationale for Proposed Legislation for Older Persons in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas” approved as a draft by the government last month.

The Rationale will be prepared into Draft Legislation for the Care and Protection of Older Persons Bill by officials at the Office of the Attorney General as the Government moves to address in law many of the abuses being perpetrated against the nation’s elderly.

Mrs Griffin’s announcement came as the country gets set to commemorate International Day for Older Persons and Older Persons Month, observed annually in October.

“As Chairperson of the Council, Mrs Barnwell was extremely concerned about the elderly and what appeared to be a lack of respect for them, their views and their continued participation in society in a meaningful way,” Mrs Griffin said. “She was also concerned about their welfare and their care and protection from neglect and physical and financial abuse. It was these strong beliefs that led her and her team to spend endless and tireless (hours) in dialogue, research and consultation with stakeholders putting together the information which eventually formed the document ‘Rationale for Proposed Legislation for Older Persons in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas’.”

That document was presented to Mrs Griffin by Mrs Barnwell on April 28. Less than four months later, the document was approved by Cabinet to be sent to the Attorney General’s Office to form Draft Legislation.

“Through the experiences of Social Services over the years and caring for the elderly, we have discovered that there are a lot of concerns with regards to the care and protection and welfare of the elderly and so we hope to accomplish first of all, legislation, laws, that actually speak to this welfare and care and protection and legislation that will let persons know - under penalty of law - that if they abuse our elderly, they will come under the long arm of the law. It is important to us for them to know that,” Mrs Griffin said.

“We hear from Senior Citizens how their National Insurance Benefits are sometimes being taken advantage of by some family members and sometimes caregivers, and of course we have the neglect of the elderly where some families and caregivers are leaving them home alone.

“The elderly are a major part of our community and we have to have specific legislation in place to ensure their well-being and protection.”

Mrs Griffin said the government is hoping to get a draft as soon as possible and start the rounds of consultations before a final draft is tabled before Parliament.

“The National Council worked very hard on this effort,” she said. “It was really Mrs Barnwell’s heart’s desire to see it come to fruition and so our seniors should be very happy.”