With three Seventh-day Adventist congregations and three companies crammed into Jireh Tabernacle at South Hill, as a result of the damage caused to two of the other church buildings by Hurricane Irma, the attendance of members of the Anguilla Retired Persons Association (ARPA) compounded the shortage of space there.
The service was held on Saturday, October 28. October is observed in Anguilla as the Month of Older Persons and usually involves a series of activities spread out over that period. According to the President of the organisation, Mrs. Yolande Hodge-Richardson, “the month of activities were wrecked by the onslaught of Hurricane Irma” which struck Anguilla on September 6 and left the island in a state of devastation.
The retired persons, from throughout Anguilla, were welcomed to the church by the Anguilla SDA District Minister, Pastor Trent Berg, who commended the organisation for its work among its members and offered his best wishes for the future. His remarks followed the sermon delivered by Elder Damien Benjamen of the New Life SDA Company at East End.
In a prepared address, the ARPA President said: “We are some one hundred members-strong, retired and semi-retired persons, who have come together to support each other; to continue the education of seniors; represent the causes and rights of seniors; and to examine issues that affect our lives.”
She continued: “We can still be of a part of, and benefit from, the development taking place in Anguilla. Among our varied activities is our annual Will-writing workshop, exhibition and, more recently, our lobbying to have Government reduce the Property Tax for seniors. We are ably assisted in our efforts by Mr. Clive Smith Jr.
“ARPA does not exist in a vacuum. We are part of a world-wide movement on ageing whose fundamental belief is to help persons to age with dignity. Started in Vienna in 1982, and carried on by the United Nations in 1991 and 1992, the first of October is observed every year as the International Day of Older Persons. This is with the understanding that Governments must make provision for the essential requirements for the wellbeing of older persons. This is a special day for us in Anguilla – as we have developed a friendly and supportive relationship with the seniors in both French St. Martin and Dutch St. Maarten, and we have exchanged visits. The day is dedicated to honour, respect and care for the world’s elderly, and was established to look after the needs of the elderly everywhere.”
Mrs. Hodge-Richardson took the opportunity to appeal to all persons, 60 years and over, to join the Anguilla Retired Persons Organisation.
