-Discount cards made available, transport bus in the pipeline

THE Region 10 arm of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) under the watch of recently appointed Chairman Deron Adams, has embarked on an initiative through which scores of senior citizens residing in Linden are benefitting from Adam’s ‘Adopt a Grand Friend’ programme.

The initiative has gathered much support from the corporate community and younger citizens of Linden, who have realised their role in honouring the seniors and assisting them in whatever way possible to make life for them easier. Being cognisant that several senior citizens have been neglected, are residing alone and are finding it difficult to meet their basic needs as well as independently care for themselves, the party rolled out the initiative to alleviate the challenges facing the senior citizens.
One of the biggest achievements of the initiative is the Region 10 Discount Card for senior citizens. “It is about looking after our seniors, getting back to that place where we care for them as young people. The message that I have been sending is that you care for those who once cared for us, [it] is one of the highest honours,” Adams noted. Every senior over 60 years can access the card which allows them to get 5-10 per cent discount from selected stores in the mining town.

From time to time also, the party would embark on hamper distributions across the town and seniors in need would benefit from groceries and other necessities. A transportation fund was also started with a view to purchasing a bus. This bus will assist in taking the seniors to the various clubs, the post office on pension days, to church [and]to the hospital amongst other places.
“We have started a vehicle fund because they have complained that transportation has become a difficult thing… persons would fly pass them and so we asked corporate Guyana to donate; Minister [Simona] Broomes (Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources)has already made the first commitment to make a donation…Corporate Supplies will be making a donation,so we are asking other entities to donate towards this bus drive for the elderly,” Adams said.

One of the oldest senior citizens’club in Linden, Avenue of the Actively Aging, which is attached to the Vivian Parris Health Centre will be celebrating 20 years of existence. The PNCR Region 10 sponsored a tour to Parika for the 32 elderly members of the club. Making a significant contribution to the tour was Minister Simona Broomes who visited the club over the last two weeks and had interacted with the seniors. She also donated some pillows to them.

Every second Thursday of each month the seniors would meet at the Health Centre where they would be engaged in various activities to keep them meaningfully occupied. A week of activities is planned to celebrate the club’s 20th anniversary. PNCR Region 10 is also pushing for the renovation of the Dorfolk Home which is the lone elderly home in Linden. It is currently in a deplorable state but is still be utilised by other clubs such as the Golden Age club.