Two weeks ago the Sint Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association (SMSPA held an awareness week on elderly abuse. One of the activities was an informative meeting for its members and non-members held in the Seniors Citizen Recretational Center at Hope Estate.
Seniors spoke about the abuse they still experience here in Sint Maarten. Some spoke out about poverty and the ever increasing cost of living in Sint Maarten. Some about the insufficient old age pensions and the very low social allowances that keep them in poverty. Personal testimonies were shared about the health care quality in Sint Maarten and the administrative procedures and decisions of the SZV. All these stories illustrated how these actions and neglect affected the seniors health and wellbeing, thus illustrating the elderly abuse the seniors are experiencing.
Over 70 seniors came out to that meeting. The seniors requaested a follow up meeting to discuss the follow up actions to get their rights respected and to improve their quality of life. The board of the SMSPA has some proposals for follow up action on the following issues:
– the 1000 ANG old age pension increase, the parliamentary discussions on the proposal of government last week on the advise of the Sociela Economic Council to legalize the 1000 ANG maximum introduced in january 2013.
– the indexation of the social allowances announced by the Minister of Social Development in relation to the social protection floor to be observed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
– the high GEBE bills to pay and the parliamentary discussions on the high cost of living in SXM and the motion of MP Roy Marlin on the GEBE relief for seniors adopted by parliament and the temporary seniors relief pilot project executed by GEBE.
– the lack of respect for human rights of older persons in Sint Maarten and the poor implementation of the United Nations Madrid International Action Plan on Aging of 2002 and the San Jose Charter on the Rights Of Older Persons from 2012 as well as the non-compliance of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the Right to Development of the people of Sint Maarten.
All members of the seniors association are hereby invited for the next meeting on thursday coming June 26 from 14.00 pm till 16.00 pm in the Seniors Citizen Recreational Center at Hope Estate. Come out and decide on the actions to take to demand respect for the seniors and their families in Sint Maarten. Nonmembers are also welcome! They get the right to speak, but do not have the right to decide, unless they signup to become a member of the association.