As populations across the Caribbean age, local advocacy groups are stepping up efforts to ensure older residents are fully informed of the legal safeguards designed to protect their well-being. The Dominica Council on Aging (DCOA) has issued a public reminder for its upcoming panel discussion, focused exclusively on the legal rights and protections available to the country’s senior population, scheduled to kick off this Saturday, July 11 at the Dominica Public Service Union conference room starting at 10:00 AM.
Unlike many closed industry forums, this event is open to all members of the public and carries no admission fee. Organizers structured the session to serve a broad cross-section of stakeholders: not only current older adults, but also people preparing for their own retirement, professional caregivers, immediate family members, and friends who support senior loved ones. The core goal is to cut through legal jargon and demystify the complex web of local protections that exist for seniors, making critical information accessible to everyone who needs it.
The panel will center its conversation on four high-priority issues that disproportionately impact older Dominicans: access to quality healthcare, long-term financial security, safe and affordable housing, and the right to independent personal decision-making. Beyond just educating attendees, DCOA organizers also aim to foster open, constructive dialogue about gaps in current legislation and policy. The forum will create space to discuss how existing frameworks can be strengthened to better shield seniors from financial exploitation, neglect, and other forms of abuse, while ensuring that the personal wishes of older adults are centered and respected in all legal and care matters.
Leading the discussion will be a multidisciplinary panel of experts drawn from both public and private sectors across the island. Participants include two practicing attorneys-at-law, Singoalla Blomqvist-Williams and John Elue Charles, who bring deep experience in elder law and civil rights. Psychiatrist Dr. Nadia Wallace will contribute perspective on the intersection of mental health, autonomy, and legal decision-making for older adults. Financial expertise will be provided by official representatives from two of the country’s leading financial institutions: the National Bank of Dominica (NBDU) and the National Cooperative Credit Union (NCCU). Additional panelists include Mary-Therese Junkere from the non-profit organization PHARCS and Ainsworth Irish, representing the DCOA itself.
The DCOA is actively urging all interested parties—from individual seniors and senior community groups to caregivers, relatives, and community members—to attend the session. Organizers emphasize that building greater public awareness of existing rights, protections, and support resources is a critical step toward helping all older adults in Dominica maintain their personal dignity, live independently on their own terms, and enjoy a high quality of life as they age.