September is the month of parades, but October saw its own very special
one today. Belize City’s golden citizens took to the streets this morning
in a parade to mark the international day for older persons. And so the morning
traffic took a respectful break for the parade which went from the Post Office
to the House of Culture. And though old age may keep them scarce on the streets,
like good wine, Belize’s senior citizens say they are not getting old,
they are increasing in value.
Elderly Woman #1,
“It’s better to have been a has been than a never was. I am
81 years young and we are not aging, we increasing in value.”
Jules Vasquez,
Mam do you wish that younger people would have more respect for the elderly?
Elderly Woman #1,
“That’s right, that’s right but they don’t have
it and it starts at home.”
Jules Vasquez,
Do you feel you all are disrespected in how people acknowledge you or fail to
acknowledge you?
Elderly Woman #2,
“Well we can’t do anything because we can’t walk.”
Elderly Woman #3,
“What I want to tell them is that the young people do not want to take
advice from the older ones that have experience.”
Jules Vasquez,
Do you think you all are routinely ignored or not acknowledged by the younger
people?
Elderly Woman #3,
“Respect is what they don’t have. They don’t have respect
for the older ones.”
Elderly Woman #4,
“Some young people are very nice but some are very rough, every night
they are in my yard thieving. When we were young we would hold an old lady’s
house and walk her across the street and God bless us but now they don’t
even want to hold your hand.”
Tomorrow, the golden citizens will have a tea party at Help Age and
on Friday, they’ll have a picnic at Old Belize.
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