THE EDITOR: On behalf of the Patriotic Organisation of Trinbago, on my personal behalf, and on behalf of the nation's grandparents, allow me to express sincere appreciation to the many organisations that have approved and are still working to approve the celebration of Grandparents Day.

One notable group is the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), which, by unanimous decision, accepted the proposal that the fourth Sunday of July, this year, July 28, be observed and celebrated by the Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, the Satya Sai International, Ravi Ji, Anglicans and others, as Grandparents Day.

July, being the UN Month of Seniors, is ideally suited to this observation. The day offers us the opportunity to show our love, gratitude, respect and to do something meaningful to honour the elderly in our society.

Under the theme Let's spoil them as they have spoilt us over the years, we can simply light a candle, or plant a tree and watch it grow and bear and become a reminder to us, of the impacts of grandparents, even long beyond their passing from this life.

As we duly recognise our elders, not only our biological ones, but also those who make real the concept of its taking a village to raise a child, to which I can relate, we can seek to be even more innovative in our own individual celebrations.

God has blessed us with our elders and they have nurtured our parents, as well as many of us, showing their wisdom of which we should not deprive ourselves. It is noted that we are living longer to the extent that the elderly are expected to form 30 per cent of the global population by 2030.

The greatest blessing in life is always be those who showed us the right way to live our lives by being exemplars themselves. As we celebrate them, I pray, may God continue to bless our country.

LENNOX SIRJUESINGH

Chaguanas

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