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For Jamaica ADA 2009 picture gallery scroll to bottom of this page - or click on the image below

Kenneth, a Jamaica ADA delegate, rehearses his speech to the minister on the need for more secure pensions.

A delegation of older people will be meeting with ministers and officials from the departments of Labour and Social Security, Health and Water and Housing. The meeting will take place on 1 of October in Middlesex, outside of Kingston Jamaica. Alongside the event will be a brass band, community march and the presentation of a film on the housing conditions of older people.

A lively planning meeting of delegates on 17 September highlighted the following themes that need to be raised: health, pensions, social care, income and livelihood, housing, and a call for a convention on the rights of older people.

Of these, the housing conditions that older people living in was of particular importance. See a clip of the session below:

Specific requests for action from the government include:

Enforcement of tax laws to ensure employers pay their share of employee pension contributions so people can access their pensions on retiring.
Increase the value of the state pension so it is in line with the cost of living
Enforcement of the Maintenance Law to ensure that children support their aged parents and enforcement of a legal penalty for those who wilfully neglect this duty.
Affordable housing for seniors - the Government already provides low-income housing for young professionals but there is no equivalent for older people.

The Jamaica ADA 2009 delegation

The delegation of older people, drawn from groups from around Jamaica will each raise one of the themes. To hear their passionate speeches for change see the videos below: