The Barbados Association of Retired Persons was invited by CBC TV producer John Lovell to appear on The People’s Business on Sunday 28th February 2010. The Association was pleased to have an opportunity to spread the word about the work done by the Association and the many and varied benefits of membership.
The panel representing BARP comprised President, Ernest Batson, Board Director, Dame Billie Miller and BARP member, Maizie Barker-Welch, who was also appearing in her capacity as Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Ageing.
Host on the programme was Peter Wickham, who has extensive knowledge of BARP, having conducted a very thorough and informative survey of BARP members which was published last year.
In the course of the programme, a wide range of topics were addressed and the panel answered a number of questions submitted by email and from those who called in to the programme while it was live on air.
“It was an excellent way of reaching our members, as well as those who have not yet joined BARP, but are eligible to do so,” said BARP President Ernest Batson after the programme.
Well, the programme must have had a positive effect, as in the following week, the rate of new members joining was more than double that in a normal week.
Further appearances on CBC Television are planned for later in the year and in the meantime, BARP appears every second and fourth Thursday of the month at 3.30 until 4pm with its programme, “Fifty Plus Living” on Q100.7FM Radio as part of the radio station’s popular evening programme, “The Big Ride”, hosted by Peter Wilkinson.