Golden Years Centre hosts Open Day at Black Point facility

Members of the public got the opportunity to take a closer look at the services being offered at the National Insurance Services (NIS) Golden Years centres when they attended an open day at the Black Point facility last Wednesday, September 25.

Joy MAtthews

The Open Day was hosted by the Board of Trustees and the staff of the NIS Golden Years Centre. The main aim of the open day was to create awareness of the role of the Centre and to highlight services offered. The open day included an exhibition of art and craft items made by senior citizens who attend the Centre.

In her welcome remarks, Coordinator of the NIS Golden Years Centre, Joy Matthews, expressed concern that the Centre’s potential is not being maximised and that more persons should avail themselves of its services. These, she said, are among the main reasons for hosting the open day. Matthews commended the staff for the upkeep of the Centre and enhancing its beauty in tandem with the surroundings. Overall, Matthews said she is pleased with the work that the NIS Golden Years Centres are doing.

Matthews commented that she enjoys the company of the senior citizens with whom she interacts when she visits the Centre.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Kenelm Beache stated that the goals of the Centre are to improve the quality of life of the ageing population in St Vincent and the Grenadines; reduce the incidence of loneliness and isolation among the elderly; to provide facilities for socialization and companionship; and to provide nutritional meals to help maintain healthy lifestyles.

The senior citizens were given the opportunity to speak at the open day. A resident from Lowmans Windward, Angela Prince is a regular at the Black Point Centre. Prince described the Open Day as a great day for them and extended thanks to Jesus, Joy Matthews, of whom she described as “very concerned about us”, and to Beache.

Some of the senior citizens who attend the National Insurance Services Golden Years centre at Black Point.

The NIS Golden Years Open Day is a precursor to the United Nations International Day of Older Persons on October 1. To this end, members from Black Point and Cane Grove, Buccament Government Centres will celebrate with a picnic at Rawacou on Thursday, October 4.