Nassau, The Bahamas – Bahamian antiques were on display to remind the public that older things, just like older persons, still have a purpose.
On October 5, the Ministry of Labour and Social Services held an exhibition in the foyer of the Clarence Bain Building on Thompson Boulevard, to celebrate Bahamian ancestry and heritage during October’s Older Person’s Month.
“Our exhibition is dubbed ‘Old but Useful’ and the message we want to get out to the public is that we are looking at a contrast,” said Rosemary Bain, assistant director for the Department of Social Services, Senior Citizens Division.
“We are looking at the coal stove, the wooden washboard, and some people brought the conch grinder, the sewing machine, and all sorts of stuff. These items, although they are old, are very, very useful. We want to say to the public the same goes for older persons.”
The Social Services Department is setting the pace to sensitise the public in recognising the declining health struggles of Older Persons, as an eventual life experience for every young person to expect.
“They may be old but they are extremely useful. Most of them don’t like to be called or considered old. So, we should not be hiding them in a room or putting them away, or not allowing them to express their needs or their desires. Some people think they can’t work so they don’t have an opinion,” said Mrs. Bain.
Older persons have achieved the privilege to teach The Bahamas about its heritage. They can act as a gate to guide young people to not repeat the mistakes of the past. This allows youth to save time in directing their energy and resources into things that work, rather than ones that fail.
“They tell us about our heritage and can tell us about what it was like before. I’m an advocate of that if we don’t remember, and if we don’t know of our past what we are going to do is repeat it,” said Mrs. Bain.
“They guide us and we are so appreciative of them. I think every day of the month should be Older Persons Month.”
Most of the people that donated artefacts for the exhibit are younger persons. The articles on exhibition are treasures passed down in their families from generations before them.
“The items are the coal stove that their grammy or their mother used. But guess what? They are saying the same thing. Most of them feel as if it is so valuable, we had a hard time getting items for the exhibition,” said Mrs. Bain.
“People are saying to us, ‘No, I want this as a reminder of my grandmother or my mother or the days of what it was like then. I can say to my children this is what it was then and this is what it is now.’ It’s to help them have an appreciation for what they have now.”
By Gena Gibbs
Bahamas Information Services
