17
The advances in Science and
Technology (S&T) have resulted
in, among other things, substantial
increases in life expectancy over the
decades and this, when coupled with
declining fertility rates, has given rise to
an aging population in many countries
today. In the USA for example, life
expectancy increased from 59 years
in 1925 to 79 years today- an increase
of 20 years. The life expectancy in
T&T is 72 years. In populous China
about 170 million people are today
over 60 years old while about 19
million are over 80. This demographic
shift is also being played out in other
countries such as Japan, South Korea
and European countries. In T&T,
about 200,000 or about 15% of our
population are over 60 years while
20% are under 15 years.
With this greying population brings
challenges - economic and social. But
with challenges come opportunities;
for example, to further tap into the
expertise and experience of the aging
population as research has shown
that people are not only living longer
but most are doing so without severe
disability. In fact, some countries have
already extended the retirement age,
some to sixty seven and a couple to
seventy.
Singapore, China, India and Malaysia
have put effective measures in place
to deal with the aging population.
Singapore with its US$3 billion
National Plan leads the way. It has
taken a number of initiatives including
the establishment of a National
of numerous awards / honors
including the First CARICOM
Science Award (jointly with the late
Dr. Raymond Wright of Jamaica),
The Chaconia Gold Medal (the
second highest National Award of
Trinidad and Tobago) in the year
2000. In that same year, he also
received the Key to the City of
Havana in Cuba. And in 2001, he
received the Academic Gold Medal
of Simon Bolivar University in
Venezuela.
In addition, he was elected to
membership in a number of
scholarly organizations including,
Fellow of the World Academy of
Sciences (TWAS), Foreign Fellow
of both the Cuban and Venezuelan
Academies of Sciences and
Member of the European Academy
of Sciences and Arts. In 2011 he
received Doctor of Science, honoris
causa from The University of
Technology in Jamaica.
He has played and continues
to play a pivotal role in the
development of science and
technology in the region and
beyond, having served in a number
of capacities including President
of the Caribbean Academy of
Science, President of the Caribbean
Scientific Community, Executive
Member of the Association of
Academy of Sciences of the World
(IAP), Executive Member of the Inter
American Network of Academies
of Sciences (IANAS), past Executive
Secretary and currently Honorary
President of CARISCIENCE
(affiliated to UNESCO), Board
Member of UNESCO’s International
Basic Sciences Programme and
Council Member of TWAS.
Professor Ramkissoon, is a former
Independent Senator in the Trinidad
and Tobago Government, currently
serving on the Board of UNESCO
International Centre for South-
South Cooperation (Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia), the Council for TWAS
Latin America and Caribbean
Regional Office (Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil). He also Chairs the recently
established CARICOM Science,
Technology and Innovation
Committee (CSTIC).
TTARP is extremely proud to
have the Professor as one of our
members. In the year 1993 when
TTARP was formed, a few months
later he joined our Association and
became our #1391 member.
The Executive Board and the
members of the Association
congratulate Harold on all his
outstanding achievements in life.
Letter to the Editor
A PLEA FOR OUR AGING
POPULATION
Silver Academy, volunteerism,
intergenerational bonding, learning,
providing incentives for home
modifications to accommodate the
elderly and protection, in general,
for vulnerable seniors. It aims at
building a nation for all ages. China
is increasing the number of daycare
centers and rest homes.
Here in T&T, while we simply do not
have the wherewithal to implement
some of the above measures and
while we applaud the Government
for establishing a Division of Aging in
2003 that produced a Policy on Aging
in 2006, surely we can produce a Plan
of Action and also proclaim legislation
to protect the elderly if we have not
done so yet. There are reports of the
elderly being abused at home and at
nursing homes, the elderly being sent
to nursing homes against their will,
the elderly having to queue up in long
lines at banks and at Immigration,
the elderly having to wait for long
periods to get attention at our hospitals.
While we recognize and welcome the
special efforts of some banks to assist
pensioners at the end of the month, this
is not adequate. A special teller should
be assigned to deal with seniors during
banking hours. All sectors, including
the private and the public, must make a
special effort to create a more humane
and caring society for the elderly,
particularly in these harsh economic
times. How we treat our elderly help
defines our civilization.
Professor Emeritus Harold Ramkissoon
Former Independent Senator
