BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE older members of our communities are often neglected and cast aside, but last week they were shown some love and appreciation as part of the recently-concluded Black San’ Festival held in Sandy Point.
This activity is a regular part of the Festival where members of the committee would visit the homes of elderly individuals in Sandy Point and Fig Tree and offer to take them on trips, whether to a historical site on the island or an island tour.
This year, according to Event Organiser Treasa Wyatt, a trip to Nevis was organised and care packages were prepared and presented to these individuals, courtesy Rams Trading Ltd.
Black San’ is associated with much hype, fun and frolic and entertainment but, as expressed by Wyatt, it is always necessary to take some timeout to recognise and support the elderly.
“…We have to make sure we show appreciation to our elders because without them we would not have been here. It was opened to anybody in the area who wanted to go. This is something sponsored by Rams. Rams usually gives them some products which they could use at their age, like special drinks for diabetics, codliver oil, joint medication and basic necessities.”
Wyatt said each year about 30 individuals are taken on the outing, but this year there were only about 20 who were willing and able for the trip to Nevis.
“Every year they have been saying they don’t want to go around St. Kitts, they want to see Nevis. So we took them on a trip over to Nevis and we took them to different places, including the Hot Springs, sight-seeing around the island and then, of course, they had lunch at Sunshine’s. They spent a little time on the beach and then we came back to St. Kitts.”
She said those who could not make the trip did not miss out on the care packages which were subsequently delivered to them.
“They enjoyed themselves! Some of them had not been to Nevis for years and it was exciting for them to see how it had changed. Some of them heard about the Hot Springs but had never gone there. And for some, they had never gone to Nevis, so it was a good experience for them.”
The Event Organiser encouraged persons to give of their time, energy and even finances to assist those elderly members of the St. Kitts and Nevis community.
