Major shift in senior citizen population by 2030

WESTERN BUREAU:

Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles, Jr is raising concerns about the country’s preparedness and ability to support its ageing population, as Jamaica faces a demographic shift which is expected to take shape by 2030. “We say it’s about nine to 14 per cent now, but the projection is that, by 2030 in Jamaica, older persons will be more than 17 per cent of our population, maybe 20,” said Charles, who was making an address at an event to mark Senior Citizens Month in Montego Bay recently. “Listen, this is something that we have to plan for.”

While noting that the outline for Jamaica’s Vision 2030 is to create a society where senior citizens can live fulfilling, healthy, and secure lives, Charles noted that while the rudimentary structure of the economy is in place, it’s not enough for the country to meet those goals at this time.

“Not only are persons now living longer, which means that there are more older persons in comparison to older persons five years ago, (but) the percentage of that group in our population is increasing. Because, while you have more older persons than you had five to 10 years ago, you have fewer humans being born,” he said.

According to Charles, who has portfolio responsibility for the welfare of senior citizens, the fact that seniors are living longer, poses a serious concern. “That group is becoming more critical to the existence of this species because the percentage is getting more and more,” he noted.

Last week, Prime Minister Andrew Holness told a town hall meeting with Jamaicans in New York, United States, that Jamaica’s goal of achieving First-World status by 2030 would not be realised. He pledged, however, to ramp up efforts to set the Jamaican economy on a sustainable long-term growth trajectory that will ensure the country gets to the stage in the near future.

“We need to build out the economy and, to do so, we have to expand and grow the economy,” Holness told the over 500 Jamaicans who were in attendance at the event organised by the Jamaican consulate in New York.