The Annual Worship Service for the Anguilla Retired Persons Association (ARPA) was held on February 19 , 2017 at the St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church, Wall Blake. Attending this Service were 42 persons from ARPA and 3 persons from one of the Senior Citizens’ Homes.
The President of ARPA, Rev. Egbert D. Richardson was invited to address the Congregation on behalf of ARPA. He thanked the Priest and the Congregation for their warm welcome, and gave a brief history of the organization which was registered as a Friendly Society on February 15, 2010, but began functioning more effectively in 2015, with an Elected Executive Board and an Executive Director in the person of Mrs Yolande Hodge- Richardson.
The Executive meets monthly, and there is a General Meeting of all members once a Quarter. October is celebrated as the month of the Older person annually as designated by the United Nations, and as part of the celebration, ARPA and the Senior Citizen Homes of Anguilla exchange visits with the Homes and senior citizens in St. Maarten/ St. Martin. Once a quarter, ARPA members also share in a games evening at one of the Homes for the Aged in Anguilla. Presently, the organization is in the process of seeking concessions from Government and the Private Sector in Anguilla, on behalf of the seniors.
There is a membership fee of EC$25.00 per annum, and provisions are made for members who would like to pay for up to three years in advance. At present there is a membership of 109.
The aim of ARPA is “To strengthen the capacity of the family and community and to provide basic care and support for Older Persons”. An invitation was extended to persons 50 years and older to join this worthy organization.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
