Aging populations across the Caribbean face growing challenges around protection of personal rights, access to essential services, and prevention of abuse — and the Dominica Council on Ageing (DCA) is stepping forward to address these gaps with a upcoming public forum focused on empowering older residents and their support networks.
Scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the conference room of the Dominica Public Service Union, the open forum is targeted at a broad audience: current senior citizens, individuals approaching retirement, professional caregivers, and family members of older adults. Unlike closed, invitation-only policy events, this gathering is open to all interested members of the public, with no admission fee charged to remove barriers to access.
In an official press release announcing the initiative, the DCA laid out two core objectives for the panel discussion. First, the event aims to deliver clear, accessible education on a range of critical issues that impact the daily lives of older Dominicans. These topics span foundational needs including healthcare access, long-term financial security, safe and affordable housing, and the fundamental right of seniors to make their own personal decisions about their care and lives.
Second, the forum is designed to spark constructive dialogue and collective action to improve existing governance for older residents. Organizers noted that the discussion will push for reviews and updates to current legal frameworks that protect older persons, with a specific focus on closing gaps that leave seniors vulnerable to financial exploitation, physical abuse, and neglect. The ultimate goal of these reforms is to guarantee that older adults’ personal wishes and civil rights are fully respected across all areas of life.
To ensure the discussion is informed by diverse, expert perspectives, the DCA has assembled a cross-disciplinary panel of professionals to lead the conversation. Participating experts include two practicing attorneys, Singoalla Blomqvist-Williams and John Elue Charles, who will bring legal insight into existing rights and safeguards; psychiatrist Dr. Nadia Wallace, who will address mental health and autonomy issues; representatives from two major local financial institutions, the National Bank of Dominica (NBD) and the National Co-operative Credit Union (NCCU), who will cover financial protection topics; Mary-Therese Junkere, representing the Pharmaceutical Society of Dominica (PHARCS); and Ainsworth Irish, a representative of the DCA itself.
Organizers emphasize that the forum will deliver more than just information: it will also serve as a launching pad for sustained advocacy. By equipping seniors, their families, and community leaders with knowledge of existing rights, the DCA hopes to build a broader movement for stronger protections that uphold three core values for older Dominicans: dignity, personal safety, and independent living in later life. The council has urged all relevant community groups, including senior organizations and caregiver networks, to attend and contribute to the discussion.