Older Persons Month got off to an exciting start with the customary Governor’s Senior Tea Party. Nearly 70 seniors from the six districts were present to share tea-time treats with His Excellency the Governor Mr. Duncan Taylor, CBE and his wife Marie-Beatrice.
Welcoming the group to Government House, Mr. Taylor commented on the high level of respect for seniors that he feels is widespread in Cayman. “I am impressed with the attitude I see in many here; there is a ready respect for seniors born out of the recognition that they are older and wiser.”
He also assured his guests that he will shortly be visiting the districts with his wife and that he would be looking forward to see some more of them there.
In his turn, Minister of Community Affairs, Gender and Housing the Hon. Mike Adam MBE, JP thanked the older persons for their many sacrifices made for family and community.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to seniors, calling on the wider community to work with relevant government entities for the betterment of older residents.
Department of Children and Family Services Director (DCFS) Deanna Look Loy also indicated that there is need for groups to champion the cause of seniors. Noting the Month’s theme, Older Persons in Economically Challenging Times, she suggested that children and their elderly parents needed to have serious discussions about financial issues at an early date.
UCCI President and author Roy Bodden was on hand to read a hilarious excerpt from his book, Stories My Grandfather Never Told Me, which had the seniors in peals of laughter.
Then it was Ian Lavine’s turn to entertain the seniors with a beautiful trumpet rendition of What a Wonderful World while Roslyn Johnson sang the inspirational gospel piece, I’d Rather Have Jesus.
After Olive Miller led a team rendition of Here at Last the party’s annual theme song which she wrote herself, the elders took to the dance floor to the strains of the North Side Kitchen Band. And Ms. Miller happily engaged the governor in the first dance.
