On an almost daily basis we hear of yet another trial or tribulation being faced by our ageing population. It might relate to the cost of food, utilities, clothing,doctor’s bills or medication. Perhaps our attention is drawn to grossly inadequate pensions or the appalling living conditions with which some of our elderly citizens have to contend. Maybe it’s the fear of crime or the scourge of elder abuse that reduces what should be the ‘Golden Years’ to little more than a miserable existence. Or it could be the absence of sufficient nursing homes and hospices where the afflicted can live out their days with dignity.

These and many other such challenges form the core of issues that the Barbados Association of Retired Persons seeks to address. The commitment of the Association’s late President, Kathleen Drayton, to lobbying for change andimproving the lives of older persons in Barbados was widely known and admired. It is with great anticipation and optimism that I look forward to BARP continuing to achieve its aims and objectives by helping to provide a voice not only for its members, but also for all persons aged fifty and over in Barbados. We should never lose sight of the fact that since its inception, BARP has relied for its existence and growth on the loyalty, dedication and devotion of its willing volunteers. The Association receives no government subventions and relies for its income solely on membership fees and occasional fundraising events. To run what has now become a national organisation of around 24,000 members, including responsibility for the administration of the largest group medical health plan in the region, would quite simply be impossible without the many vounteers who provide invaluable support for the wide range of administrative and organisational tasks necessary to keep the Association functioning effectively.The Association also relies almost exclusively on a multitude of volunteers to run the social, educational and community ctivities and programmes created by the 12 BARP sub-committees, themselves made up of volunteers.

But facing the challenges of tomorrow will require not only continued growth in membership, but also a considerable increase in our volunteer pool. We need to harness the considerable skills and talents of our individual and collective members to address the many needs and concerns of our membership and the wider community. And to those amongst our membership who feel they have no skills, talents or expertise to offer, I am sending a clear message that the moment you feel you would like to contribute some of your time, however much or however little, we will welcome you and your offer of support with open arms.

Our strength as an Association may lie in our numbers, but numbers alone will not give us the power to bring about change. For that, we need to be heard, respected and visibly backed up by our membership. Whilst Bajans are not best known for their willingness to ‘take to the streets’ to air their grievances, it is imperative that we use every opportunity available to us to voice our concerns in public. And a large group will always attract more attention to its cause than a lone voice.

BARP has an active Consumer Protection Group which ably represented the Association’s members at the recent Barbados Light and Power rate hearings. But the public meetings of the Consumer Group must be better attended if it is to have the teeth it needs to bring about change. You do not need any specific skill to attend one of these, or any other kind of meeting organised by BARP for its members, just astrong desire to let the powers that be know that you are not satisfied with the way things are. So the next time you read or hear of a meeting, please make an effort to attend. That in itself is a worthwhile contribution to BARPand its aims.

I invite your support and encourage and welcome your involvement. If we join together andsupport each other, we can achieve extraordinary outcomes.