BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 1ST 2006 - Senior citizens on St. Kitts capped month-long celebrations on Tuesday with a parade through the streets of Basseterre.
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| Senior citizens wave to St. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas | |
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| Seniors citizens on parade | |
Accompanied by students and teachers from several schools on the island, the senior citizens were applauded by on-lookers and employees of government and business places as they made their way from Greenlands to Independence Square.~~Adz:Right~~
Among the on-lookers who left their officers to greet the seniors on parade were Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Development, Hon. Sam Condor.
The celebrations sponsored by the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank had as its theme, "Improving the quality of life of older persons, Advancing UN Global strategies."
Prime Minister Douglas" St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration has ensured that senior citizens who have contributed to the social, economic and political development of St. Kitts and Nevis are not left out of the successes of the twin-island Federation.
Dr. Douglas recently pointed out that the Federation's Social Security Scheme has grown by leaps and bounds, and has progressively increased its minimum pensions and its assistance pensions to improve the lot of the less privileged and elderly persons.
Over the ten years since his Labour Government has been in office, assistance pensions jumped from EC$1040 per annum to EC$2640 per annum and minimum pensions increased by EC$1440 from EC$2160 per annum to EC$3600 per annum.
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| students with placards calling for care and help for the seniors and other elderly persons. | |
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| students with placards calling for care and help for the seniors and other elderly persons. | |
Government's revolutionised health care system has provided easy access to medical and health care for all of the people, including the poor, the elderly, the mentally and physically challenged, and persons with chronic ailments.
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Dr. Douglas noted that the Ministry of Education provides free education to all children, pay examination fees, provide free meals and free books to children of poor families, including the children of former sugar workers.
"Our Ministry of Social Development has implemented a wide range of programmes that have brought great relief to the poor and underprivileged among us.
These programmes include the provision of school uniforms for children of low-income families, the caring of the aged, the protection of children, and the promotion of gender equity, said Dr. Douglas, who added that the success of these social programmes is beyond doubt and is verified by the ability of the Federation to consistently occupy a leading position among the top performers of the world as measured by the United Nations Human Development Index.
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| St. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas left his office Tuesday to greet senior citizens on parade | |
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| Two seniors being driven in a caddilac during the parade | |
