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DEDICATED TO SERVICE - Sharon Deheney-Walker (left), Director, Caribbean
Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) presents a Living Legacy Award to Gloria
Robinson at the CCRP Lifestyle Expo on Saturday April 20. Robinson was one of
six seniors who were awarded at the event for their contribution to national
development in different areas. She was honoured for her many years of
dedication to community service. The Living Legacy Awards feature is a
continuation of CCRP’s tribute to outstanding Jamaicans. The Expo featured
exhibits from the Jamaica Public Service, Grace Foods, British Caribbean
Insurance Company (BCIC), HD Hopwood and Facey Commodity.
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| POTTINGERS HONOURED: Former Custos of St Mary, the Hon. Bobby Pottinger, and his wife, Colleen Pottinger, receive the BCIC Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) Living Legacy Award for Agriculture and National Service from BCIC CEO Peter Levy (second right) and CCRP Chair Professor Denise Eldemire Shearer. Occasion was CCRP Jamaica's Third Anniversary celebrations themed 'Seniors on the Rise' at the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA) on Saturday April 20, 2013. |
SOME 200 ENJOY CCRP
LIFESTYLE EXPO: VARIED EXHIBITS, REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL LINKS,
LATEST RESEARCH, HONOURING 6 MORE ‘LEGENDS’
Kingston, Jamaica, April 23, 2013: Nearly
200 vivacious seniors and their friends enjoyed a lively afternoon of
important information combined with fun treats, at the third Anniversary
Lifestyle Expo of the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP)
Jamaica. This took place on Saturday afternoon April 20 and also
featured the CCRP Annual General Meeting. Venue was the roomy
auditorium at the Chinese Benevolent Association on Hope Road. The theme
was “Seniors Power on the Rise”.
Honoured
“stars” of the afternoon were five distinguished nation builders
presented with CCRP Living Legacy Awards highlighting their outstanding
contributions to Jamaica. These were Gloria Robinson for Community
Development; Thelma Jackson for Nursing and Education; Dotsie Gordon for
Business and Community Development; Justice Hon. Lensley Wolfe for
Justice, and Hon. Alaric and Coleen Pottinger for Agriculture and
Community Development. Mrs. Jackson was unable to attend, so her husband
Gladstone Jackson received the award on her behalf.
The
2013 Awards were a continuation of CCRP’s tribute to outstanding
Jamaican seniors. In February of last year, the Association honoured 63
seniors at its Living Legacy Awards, as part of the country’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. In June 2012, CCRP also recognised five veteran Jamaican Olympians, as a feature of its first Expo.
Partnering
with CCRP to provide three of the prestigious Living Legacy Awards this
year were Sagicor (Business and Community Development), National
Commercial Bank (Justice) and BCIC (Agriculture and Community
Development).
Other valued CCRP partners
included exhibitors who showcased a range of products and services
relevant for senior citizens, and indeed for all citizens. Jamaica
Public Service had a fascinating array of the latest energy saving
devices from its new E-Store. H.D. Hopwood showed pharmaceutical
products. Facey Commodity exhibited food products for diabetics and
GraceKennedy offered patrons health drinks and other welcome
refreshments. Tastee and National Baking Company also provided snacks
for guests.
CCRP
Jamaica’s growing international links were highlighted by greetings
from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), and a
presentation by Edward Bushell, President of the Barbados Association of
Retired Persons (BARP). The AARP sent hundreds of copies of two of its
latest, very informative magazines. Mr. Bushell told CCRP members of the
progress of BARP and its 33,000 members, and of its important linkages
with sister organisations in the eastern Caribbean.
Serious
advice on insurance and energy conservation was offered by presenter
Simone Foote, Marketing Manager of BCIC and Jay McCoskey, Director,
Customer Operations at JPS. Important findings of a recent study on
ageing in Jamaica were shared by CCRP Chair Professor Denise Eldemire
Shearer. Among other details, the Lifestyle Expo participants heard that
Jamaicans are living longer, and that the majority of our older folk
are functionally independent and able to take part in activities.
However, chronic disease is increasing in the older population.
The
Professor is the Director of the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre, which
had carried out the study whose findings she discussed. It involved a
survey of more than 2,900 seniors over a one-year period. It funded by
the National Health Fund.
On
a lighter note, the CCRP Lifestyle Expo included spot prizes for
audience members who answered questions correctly on the material
presented: Hertz provided a coupon for complementary car rental in
Florida, and BCIC provided a gift basket, as prizes. The gate
prizewinner received a gift basket from FLOW. CCRP Board member Hermine
Metcalfe served as a gracious emcee, with assistance from Dorett
Linton, CCRP Coordinator. The CCRP was happy to welcome more than a
dozen new members who signed up at the Expo, to join the over 700
existing members.
The
Caribbean Community of Retired Persons was launched in April 2010, with
the mission of “working to ensure that the vast talent, experience and
wisdom of our seniors will be respected, and that they enjoy the quality
of life which they so richly deserve.”
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Contact: Dorett Linton, CCRP Coordinator
926-6740, 383-2150
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