GOVERNMENT HAS failed to enforce the section of the Maintenance Act dealing with financial support legally due to senior citizens.
The long-standing law makes it mandatory for children or grandchildren to provide financial assistance to their parents or grandparents as long as they are able to.
"We basically don't have any idea how many are in need of assistance and children are not giving it. We need a set mechanism to identify cases and provide legal structures for those willing to bring a case to the authorities," she stressed.
Dr. Deniese Eldemire-Shearer said the need to know the specifics of the issues currently facing our approximately 267,000 seniors, which represents more than 10 per cent of the total population, could not be overemphasised.
FINANCE A PROBLEM
"It is extremely important from the point of view of programme development," she stressed. Dr. Eldemire-Shearer also highlighted that the survey would also aid the council in its bid to help prepare future seniors for old age. She said the University of the West Indies has the capability to carry out the much-needed study but the unanswered question is the whole business of financing the project.
