IN the past, this column addressed the issue of the aged in modern societies, especially urban communities, from an individual and familial perspective.  In this offering, we will discuss ageing from a societal standpoint about Caribbean countries and also refer to worldwide trends.

ECLAC had done a study and produced a Report on “The Ageing Caribbean: 20 years of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing,” and last month, there was a virtual international meeting of Caribbean governments, relevant NGOs, and academia to discuss the findings and recommendations of this report.

Population ageing has been affecting all Caribbean countries and has accelerated faster in some countries than others.  Before we look at the position in any individual country, it would be useful to overview the Caribbean as a whole: in 2000, 10% of the population was over 65 years old about those of working age between 15 and 64 years.  In 2020, this figure reached 14 per 100 in about 15 to 64 years; by 2030, it is estimated to be 20 per 100.

As mentioned above, some countries have an ageing population greater than the Caribbean average, including Barbados, Curacao, Martinique, and the Virgin Islands.  Others, including Belize, Suriname, and Guyana, are below the Caribbean average.  They all, however, face the same ageing trend with the same concomitant social and economic problems.

Such problems, to be addressed, would include pension systems, health systems, and long-term care services for the ageing and aged.  In Guyana, for example, the main pension scheme catering to the working population, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), after being in the surplus from its establishment, now finds its reserves have begun to diminish gradually.  This pressure on the NIS reserves is due to the requirements of Old Age pensioners.  The same kinds of pressures are building up on the health services and the economic workforce.

In addressing this growing percentage of older persons in society, it is imperative that Guyana and other Caribbean countries review and update the laws relating to ageing and older persons and develop policies of adequately supplementing pensions and guaranteeing a minimum pension income; expanding opportunities for older persons to participate in decision-making; and strengthening organizations representing older persons.

It is apposite to quote the words of ECLAC’s Caribbean Director, Ms Diane Quarless; “Population ageing represents an opportunity to utilize the skills fully. Knowledge and experience of older persons.  It will require tackling age discrimination, a more flexible approach to retirement, and more support for those with health conditions or disabilities.”  Ms Quarless’ prescription is one that the Caribbean and other Western societies could adopt as a matter of policy, since it is a time-tested one.  In Western societies, human life is regarded as moving straight from birth to death without any breaks.  In ancient traditions, for example, the Hindu tradition, life is regarded as falling into four distinct though not exclusive, segments.

The first segment is that of childhood and then studentship when one is educated and prepared with the skills to live creatively in the world. From this stage of life, the person then passes into the second segment of, that of a householder when they marry, raise a family, build houses, and contribute to their family’s and society’s economic well-being.  The Third Segment is the one to which Ms Quarless refers and where the person gradually releases their hold on material possessions and devotes themselves to public service.  The fourth segment is when one seeks God if one is a theist and learns to overcome the fear of death.

The trends of ageing or younger populations have become linked with the question of overpopulation in individual countries and the world.  This concern of overpopulation, that is, population outstripping the economic and social ability to comfortably meet their needs and also being destructive of the environment and biodiversity of individual countries and the planet, has become the main focus in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Before the 18th century, populations grew very slowly but with the advancement of medicine, knowledge of hygiene, public health systems, and greater food supplies, populations began to grow at a faster rate.  By the middle of the 20th century, countries began to be concerned that they had too many people for their economies to support. Countries such as India and China took measures to limit their populations.  All countries began to limit immigrants.  This contrasts with earlier centuries when people were regarded as valued assets and immigrants were admitted without much opposition.

Aged and ageing populations may lead to the stabilization of populations and may even result in the eventual decline of populations.  Aged and ageing populations may therefore have both positive and negative effects