Insensitivity to senior citizens

THE EDITOR: For the past three years, a group of senior citizens, members of the St Antoine Union Friendly Society, have been pleading in vain with the Ministry of Labour and Cooperatives to help them resolve a matter concerning contributions they have invested and to make it possible for them to access the funds of the society lodged in a commercial bank. The society owns a building and land, located on the Western Main Road, at the corner of Baird Street, Carenage. This property has been rented out for several years and as a result has accumulated a substantial amount of money in a commercial bank.

As fate would have it, the society at present is without de jure officers, since most of the elected officers have passed away. As a result the Ministry of Labour and Co-operatives has been left in charge of the Society’s books and also is collecting rent from at least two tenants. The other tenants are not paying rent. Someone has even built an illegal concrete structure on the premises. Perhaps what is worse is the decision of the Ministry of Labour and Co-operatives to close the books to conduct an audit.

Time is against the society’s membership. Many are on the verge of passing away, while others are becoming frustrated and worn out from making numerous futile telephone calls and visits to the ministry. No one seems to care.  Members have been left powerless, without direction, and alienated. Against the background of insensitivity highlighted above, I now urge the Minister of Labour and Co-operatives to see what can be done for these frustrated people.  Under no circumstances should state workers so callously treat our elderly citizens.

THERESA S WICKHAM
Carenage