THE FEMALE ELEMENT IN SAINT LUCIA ELECTIONS 2011
As someone who had been approached years ago to become a candidate but was unable to accede, I have the greatest respect for all the ladies who have offered themselves as candidates for the upcoming elections. Certainly, a record number for Elections 2011. Way to go ladies - we have a voice let us use it.
The reasons why I was unable to offer myself at the time was that my children were young and I felt that it would have been unfair to them to have to compete for my time with my constituents. Also at the time I felt that I needed to be financially independent to take on such a responsibility. As women who are inclined to be perfectionist, we can always find a hundred and one reasons/excuses why we should not respond to such a call.
So again, hats off to all the ladies who have responded to the call to serve country above self. Emma Hippolyte; Alvina Reynolds; Lilia Haracksingh; Austina Fanus; Jeanine Compton; Dr. Gail Rigobert; Nancy Charles; Veronica Guard-Weeks; Felicia Browne and Melanie Fraites.
I will continue to make my contribution to country in my chosen field, business consultancy, workshop and retreat facilitation, motivational/inspirational speaking where I will share my knowledge and skill with persons/organisations seeking my service. My new excuse for still not responding to the call is that it is now too late for me to do so. I figure time to defer to a younger generation of able leaders.
A favourite quote by Peter Marshall is apt here, “If you do not stand for something you will fall for anything”. So I have decided to add my words of endorsement to one of the candidates who I have considered a friend and colleague for a very long time. I cannot speak with regards to the other candidates as I do not have personal knowledge of them on the level that I know Emma. I am certain there are readers amongst you that can attest to the abilities and character of the impressive line up of other female candidates for Elections 2011.
I first meet Emma when we were amongst the founding members of one of Saint Lucia’s most successful professional organisations, The National Secretaries Association of Saint Lucia. At that time she was employed with the accounting firm of Peat Marwick, Michel & Co as a Secretary when through share dint of hard work and a strong desire to succeed she undertook professional studies to attain her CGA. Later as colleagues we supported and relied on each other as the only two female members on the Board of Directors of the National Commercial Bank which later became Bank of Saint Lucia, where she still serves. From my experience, If Emma has a strong conviction on anything; you can rely on her to drive home her point and to stand by what she believes in. In her capacity as a long standing member of the board of the bank she has provided meaningful and effective representation on behalf of the minority share holders that she represents. As a professional woman it took a great deal of courage on her part to have offered herself for elective politics with the full knowledge that her past private life would be open to public scrutiny. Forgiveness of self and being forgiven by others is a powerful vehicle for letting go, and moving on.
Over the years I have had reason to admire her resolve, passion for good governance and principled leadership in her roles as Director of Audit of Saint Lucia and later as Executive Director of the National Insurance Corporation. A no nonsense, decisive, analytical, yet compassionate leader. In more recent time, my opportunity to observe Emma came last year November following the passage of Hurricane Thomas when we were fellow pilgrims on a “Sacred Journey” to the Holy Land. The level of patience, care and attention she demonstrated whilst attending to a fellow pilgrim that was not very able was remarkable. Her attitude and demeanour on that pilgrimage further enhanced my opinion of her as a committed individual and dedicated friend. I should not have been surprised though, as I am also aware that she had adopted a differently able child who has shared her life for over twenty five years. Her high level of discipline in the practice of her spiritual life is unquestionable. It is for the above reasons that I add my endorsement to her candidacy as a fit and proper person to adequately represent us all. I find her able and more than capable.
I leave you with this quote by one of my favourite authors; Steve Covey from his book: The 8th Habit – From Effectiveness to Greatness.
“Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.” End of quote.
As women we can make a difference in the process of governance of our fair Helen, we have something to bring to the table, a different mindset and different tool sets – let us not waste this opportunity.
Thecla C. Deterville
Monday, November 21, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Contact:
Michael Aubertin – Executive Committee
Do Something World - Saint Lucia
+ 1 758 485-6330
Email: Michael_Aubertin@yahoo.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DO SOMETHING WORLD SAINT LUCIA ANNOUNCES FIRST HIGH IMPACT SERVICE DAY PROJECT
CASTRIES, Saint Lucia (March 30, 2011) –To kick off the first High Impact Service Day project of the Do Something World Saint Lucia campaign, launched last month by former NFL player Miles McPherson, all Saint Lucians are invited to the biggest KOUDMEN ever held on the island.
Following the devastation seen after Hurricane Tomas, the Do Something World Saint Lucia Executive Team has announced an environmentally-focused service project. This project will involve cleaning up the riverbank and helping to clean up and beautify the primary school in Bexon.
The Committee is seeking volunteers to donate time between 7:00 am and 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 2, 2011 to start the project. The Department of Forestry will be providing chainsaws and operators, and waste removal trucks will be on hand to assist with the effort. Volunteers are asked to bring tools such as weed wackers, rakes, cutlasses, shovels, picks, wheelbarrows, buckets, gardening tools, and gloves and boots for their own use. Volunteers can meet at the Bexon Primary School between 7:00 am and 2:00 pm for information and work assignments.
Please visit www.dswstlucia.com for more information. Join hundreds of other volunteers and help bring back the Saint Lucian KOUDMEN spirit!
Annou fè an bagay! (Let’s do something!)
About Miles McPherson
Whether sharing the stage with a former U.S. president or producing an Emmy Award-winning documentary, Miles McPherson stands at the forefront of ministry mobilization. McPherson, a former NFL player, is the President of Miles Ahead, an outreach ministry focused on sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with teens and adults all over the world, and Senior Pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego, California. He recently authored Do Something! Make Your Life Count, which has garnered international acclaim for its global volunteerism philosophy and is the foundation for the Do Something World movement. He has appeared on many national television shows, including Larry King Live, Good Morning America, The O'Reilly Factor, and Fox & Friends.
About Do Something World
Do Something World is a place where individuals, groups or churches join with thousands of others who have stepped up to change the world around them - and show how ordinary people can do extraordinary things with God’s transforming power. The Do Something World movement was founded by Pastor/Evangelist Miles McPherson, president of Miles Ahead and Senior Pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego, one of the fastest growing churches in the United States. With its more than 100 volunteer-led ministries, and a commitment to serve San Diego with 228,000 volunteer hours in 2010, the Rock Church is a Do Something World training center.
For more information about the campaign and how to get involved, visit dswstlucia.com.
ENDS
Michael Aubertin – Executive Committee
Do Something World - Saint Lucia
+ 1 758 485-6330
Email: Michael_Aubertin@yahoo.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DO SOMETHING WORLD SAINT LUCIA ANNOUNCES FIRST HIGH IMPACT SERVICE DAY PROJECT
CASTRIES, Saint Lucia (March 30, 2011) –To kick off the first High Impact Service Day project of the Do Something World Saint Lucia campaign, launched last month by former NFL player Miles McPherson, all Saint Lucians are invited to the biggest KOUDMEN ever held on the island.
Following the devastation seen after Hurricane Tomas, the Do Something World Saint Lucia Executive Team has announced an environmentally-focused service project. This project will involve cleaning up the riverbank and helping to clean up and beautify the primary school in Bexon.
The Committee is seeking volunteers to donate time between 7:00 am and 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 2, 2011 to start the project. The Department of Forestry will be providing chainsaws and operators, and waste removal trucks will be on hand to assist with the effort. Volunteers are asked to bring tools such as weed wackers, rakes, cutlasses, shovels, picks, wheelbarrows, buckets, gardening tools, and gloves and boots for their own use. Volunteers can meet at the Bexon Primary School between 7:00 am and 2:00 pm for information and work assignments.
Please visit www.dswstlucia.com for more information. Join hundreds of other volunteers and help bring back the Saint Lucian KOUDMEN spirit!
Annou fè an bagay! (Let’s do something!)
About Miles McPherson
Whether sharing the stage with a former U.S. president or producing an Emmy Award-winning documentary, Miles McPherson stands at the forefront of ministry mobilization. McPherson, a former NFL player, is the President of Miles Ahead, an outreach ministry focused on sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with teens and adults all over the world, and Senior Pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego, California. He recently authored Do Something! Make Your Life Count, which has garnered international acclaim for its global volunteerism philosophy and is the foundation for the Do Something World movement. He has appeared on many national television shows, including Larry King Live, Good Morning America, The O'Reilly Factor, and Fox & Friends.
About Do Something World
Do Something World is a place where individuals, groups or churches join with thousands of others who have stepped up to change the world around them - and show how ordinary people can do extraordinary things with God’s transforming power. The Do Something World movement was founded by Pastor/Evangelist Miles McPherson, president of Miles Ahead and Senior Pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego, one of the fastest growing churches in the United States. With its more than 100 volunteer-led ministries, and a commitment to serve San Diego with 228,000 volunteer hours in 2010, the Rock Church is a Do Something World training center.
For more information about the campaign and how to get involved, visit dswstlucia.com.
ENDS
Saturday, March 12, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
“CELESTIAL GEMS # 2 ”
A COLLECTION OF FIVE
MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES ON DVD
BY
THECLA C. DETERVILLE
Over the years Thecla C. Deterville has delivered many motivational speeches to various groups and organizations to mark special occasions. Some of these speeches have been delivered to Schools, Women’s Groups, Sporting Organizations, Charitable Organizations, Public and Private Sector entities. Celestial Gems was released in 2008 and the second DVD in the series Celestial Gems 2 is now ready for release.
This DVD is a compilation of five such speeches. The first was delivered to the Management and Staff of the Ministry of Communication, Works, Transport & Public Utilities on July 24th, 2008 at the National Cultural Centre to mark the official opening of a Strategic Planning Meeting. The title of that presentation was “Me Incorporated” and sought to motivate staff to see themselves as Entrepreneurs and not succumb to the stereotyping associated with members of the Public Service.
The second speech was delivered in April 2009 at the National Stadium in Vieux Fort at the opening ceremony of the Southern National Career Show Case, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education & Culture. The title of that presentation was “Careers in Focus – Broadening Opportunities.” The intention was to expose students to the challenges and opportunities associated with choosing a career.
The third speech on this DVD was delivered at the Graduation Ceremony of the St. Joseph’s Convent in October 2009. The Theme: “Unleashing the Extraordinary”. The event was held at the St. Joseph’s Convent Auditorium. This was a clarion call to the graduates to dig within and explore the possibilities that lay ahead of them, and the need to endeavour to develop their full potential.
The presenter was invited to deliver a motivational talk to the Carnival Contestants for 2009. This presentation was delivered at the Sandals Regency Golf Resort & Spa, La Toc on 12th June, 2009. The theme for this speech was, “Beauty, Education and Talent”. This event was held under the auspices of the Cultural Development Foundation. The contestants were invited to allow their inner beauty to radiate through their outer beauty and to use the opportunity afforded them as Carnival Queen Contestants as a foundation to aspire to a brighter future for themselves, their families and their country.
The fifth and final speech in this series was delivered at Coco Palm Resort, Rodney Bay on May 14th, 2010 at the opening ceremony of the District 81 Caribbean Toastmasters May Conference 2010. The Theme for the Conference was “Caribbean Leadership through Communication.” And the title of the speech was “Where does Leadership Reside?” District 81 comprises Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Haiti, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
The DVD is now available for Sale at Celestial Self Development Centre, 99 Chaussee Road, Castries, and at leading book stores on Island. It will also be made available for sale as a download on www.celestialsdc.com. In this instance individual speeches can be purchased. We can also be contacted by Mail at, P.O. Box 835, Castries, Saint Lucia or call us at 758-453-1924 or e-mail us at celestial@candw.lc to secure your copy.
“CELESTIAL GEMS # 2 ”
A COLLECTION OF FIVE
MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES ON DVD
BY
THECLA C. DETERVILLE
Over the years Thecla C. Deterville has delivered many motivational speeches to various groups and organizations to mark special occasions. Some of these speeches have been delivered to Schools, Women’s Groups, Sporting Organizations, Charitable Organizations, Public and Private Sector entities. Celestial Gems was released in 2008 and the second DVD in the series Celestial Gems 2 is now ready for release.
This DVD is a compilation of five such speeches. The first was delivered to the Management and Staff of the Ministry of Communication, Works, Transport & Public Utilities on July 24th, 2008 at the National Cultural Centre to mark the official opening of a Strategic Planning Meeting. The title of that presentation was “Me Incorporated” and sought to motivate staff to see themselves as Entrepreneurs and not succumb to the stereotyping associated with members of the Public Service.
The second speech was delivered in April 2009 at the National Stadium in Vieux Fort at the opening ceremony of the Southern National Career Show Case, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education & Culture. The title of that presentation was “Careers in Focus – Broadening Opportunities.” The intention was to expose students to the challenges and opportunities associated with choosing a career.
The third speech on this DVD was delivered at the Graduation Ceremony of the St. Joseph’s Convent in October 2009. The Theme: “Unleashing the Extraordinary”. The event was held at the St. Joseph’s Convent Auditorium. This was a clarion call to the graduates to dig within and explore the possibilities that lay ahead of them, and the need to endeavour to develop their full potential.
The presenter was invited to deliver a motivational talk to the Carnival Contestants for 2009. This presentation was delivered at the Sandals Regency Golf Resort & Spa, La Toc on 12th June, 2009. The theme for this speech was, “Beauty, Education and Talent”. This event was held under the auspices of the Cultural Development Foundation. The contestants were invited to allow their inner beauty to radiate through their outer beauty and to use the opportunity afforded them as Carnival Queen Contestants as a foundation to aspire to a brighter future for themselves, their families and their country.
The fifth and final speech in this series was delivered at Coco Palm Resort, Rodney Bay on May 14th, 2010 at the opening ceremony of the District 81 Caribbean Toastmasters May Conference 2010. The Theme for the Conference was “Caribbean Leadership through Communication.” And the title of the speech was “Where does Leadership Reside?” District 81 comprises Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Haiti, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
The DVD is now available for Sale at Celestial Self Development Centre, 99 Chaussee Road, Castries, and at leading book stores on Island. It will also be made available for sale as a download on www.celestialsdc.com. In this instance individual speeches can be purchased. We can also be contacted by Mail at, P.O. Box 835, Castries, Saint Lucia or call us at 758-453-1924 or e-mail us at celestial@candw.lc to secure your copy.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
It's all about Change...
The recent experience of moving offices from Sans Souci to Chaussee Road has proven to be quite an eye opener. From about October we meet and put together a detailed action plan, everyone knew what was expected of them. We had not anticipated what was possible when one had to depend on others for implementation. And there was the additional challenges brought about by the passage of Hurricane Tomas and the subsequent rainy days that had a negative impact on overall productivity. On top of this came flooding from a pipe left open during the water shortage, after someone upstairs realised that there was no water in the tap.
Did we make the right decision? Questions and more Questions? Then there was the carpenter who worked on evenings only; and the painter that had his own schedule despite what the Supervisor of works wanted.
And talk about our service providers Tomas had made it impossible for them to entertain any other service request. A bit of travel in between and December was well on its way before the Chaussee Road premises began to take shape. Talk about disappointment, we really thought that we would have settled before the Christmas Season was upon us and we would have been able to utilise our road front facilities to the max particularly from the Vows Plus perspective, but this was not to be.
By then the despondency began to set it, it looked like we all needed a dose of our own medicine. Space looked limited; the chemistry seemed not to be there; activities took longer to be concluded than they should. The familiar was no longer familiar every thing had to find a new home; new habits had to be cultivated. Parking became an issue. We had to get permission from DCA before we could erect our sign; this too seems to be a slow process. In the meantime we have adapted, laminated signs are stuck on our glass door.
The new premises have taken shape, everything has found a place; there are a few we are still in search of, hastily put away to get there as fast as we possibly could, and now paying the price for that haste.
We have now settled, getting used to our new environment with its plusses and minuses. Only time will tell whether the plusses outweigh the minuses or vice versa. Peace of mind is returning; the frowns have disappeared; the smiles have returned our scented candles are burning and our inspirational music is playing.
We continue to welcome our visitors old and new, we look forward to seeing you soon at our new location. To make your special purchases; to loan books from our well stocked library; to attend our motivational movie evenings; to discuss your training or self development needs etc.
Managing Change is never easy, but where there is a will there is always a way. I leave you with this quote.
Inner Peace
“Do you want an impenetrable sense of inner peace? Take a deep breath let go of anxiety … Ask God to lift the clouds of doubt and fear from your vision. Believe that peace is your natural state"Christopher H Jackson
We took a strong dose of our own medicine and it really worked for us.
Did we make the right decision? Questions and more Questions? Then there was the carpenter who worked on evenings only; and the painter that had his own schedule despite what the Supervisor of works wanted.
And talk about our service providers Tomas had made it impossible for them to entertain any other service request. A bit of travel in between and December was well on its way before the Chaussee Road premises began to take shape. Talk about disappointment, we really thought that we would have settled before the Christmas Season was upon us and we would have been able to utilise our road front facilities to the max particularly from the Vows Plus perspective, but this was not to be.
By then the despondency began to set it, it looked like we all needed a dose of our own medicine. Space looked limited; the chemistry seemed not to be there; activities took longer to be concluded than they should. The familiar was no longer familiar every thing had to find a new home; new habits had to be cultivated. Parking became an issue. We had to get permission from DCA before we could erect our sign; this too seems to be a slow process. In the meantime we have adapted, laminated signs are stuck on our glass door.
The new premises have taken shape, everything has found a place; there are a few we are still in search of, hastily put away to get there as fast as we possibly could, and now paying the price for that haste.
We have now settled, getting used to our new environment with its plusses and minuses. Only time will tell whether the plusses outweigh the minuses or vice versa. Peace of mind is returning; the frowns have disappeared; the smiles have returned our scented candles are burning and our inspirational music is playing.
We continue to welcome our visitors old and new, we look forward to seeing you soon at our new location. To make your special purchases; to loan books from our well stocked library; to attend our motivational movie evenings; to discuss your training or self development needs etc.
Managing Change is never easy, but where there is a will there is always a way. I leave you with this quote.
Inner Peace
“Do you want an impenetrable sense of inner peace? Take a deep breath let go of anxiety … Ask God to lift the clouds of doubt and fear from your vision. Believe that peace is your natural state"Christopher H Jackson
We took a strong dose of our own medicine and it really worked for us.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
CELESTIAL GEMS # 2
WATCH THIS SPACE!!!
CELESTIAL GEMS# to be released by November 9, 2010
SOON YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PLACE YOUR ORDERS ON LINE
At: www.celestialsdc.com , Or contact us at Celestial Self Development Centre, Sans Souci, P. O. Box 835, Castries, Saint Lucia, Telephone 758-453-1924, or e-mail: celestial@candw.lc.
SOON TO BE RELEASED DVD, - “CELESTIAL GEMS # 2”
FIVE MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES BY
THECLA C. DETERVILLE
These speeches will also be available for download on our website: www. celestialsdc.com
CELESTIAL GEMS# to be released by November 9, 2010
SOON YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PLACE YOUR ORDERS ON LINE
At: www.celestialsdc.com , Or contact us at Celestial Self Development Centre, Sans Souci, P. O. Box 835, Castries, Saint Lucia, Telephone 758-453-1924, or e-mail: celestial@candw.lc.
SOON TO BE RELEASED DVD, - “CELESTIAL GEMS # 2”
FIVE MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES BY
THECLA C. DETERVILLE
These speeches will also be available for download on our website: www. celestialsdc.com
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE RETIREMENT STORY
Picture early retirement between ages 55 to 60.
The National Insurance Corporation (NIC) pays insurance contributions at 63 what do you do in the meantime?
Your company had a pension plan which you contributed to. You took a lump sum and not a monthly payment as the annuities offered for monthly payments are not attractive.
The lump sum is invested and you are expecting to live off the interest which is paid annually as monthly interest may be insufficient to cover basic necessities.
Monthly income now falls far short of current expenditure. You now have access to less than 50% of your previous monthly salary.
SCENARIO
The house is paid for in full or your mortgage is still current.
The car is paid off in full or there is still a balance due on your car loan.
You have other loans with banks or other financial institutions.
Your house has a second mortgage on it to finance the University Education of a child or children.
There may be a loan at the Credit Union for prior major medical expenses.
ONGOING EXPENSES; these could be;
Car insurance
Vehicle servicing, maintenance and repair
House Insurance
Medical Insurance
Life Insurance
These all have to be paid monthly.
HOME MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS
The roof of the house needs to be changed.
The house needs painting inside and outside; the kitchen cupboards are rotting and needs to be replaced.
The solar heater has gone bad.
The bathroom needs to be redesigned to take into account your current physical state or that of elderly parents living with you.
The refrigerator, the cooker, the kettle, the toaster, the toaster oven, the washing machine, the dryer, the dish washer etc. These have to be replaced to help you maintain the standard of living that you have become accustomed to.
The monthly grocery bills, the petrol bill, the water bill, the telephone and cell bills, the electricity bills, doctors bills, medication, the vet bills, the gas bill, the domestic help, the gardener and the list goes on and on.
The children have just begun to work and have their own expenses to meet including their students loan.(Remember you mortgaged your family home to rase the required sum for the university education so repayment of that loan is certainly a priority.) Not all the children have honoured that commitment and such a situation could have you in dier straits. They also want their own car and apartment.
The spouse may no longer be in the picture. Or may be, if so some assistance is available the pensions can be combined and the family can sell one of the cars and make do with one car in the family. This creates some pressure for two individuals who previously had differing interest and did their own thing. The independence of both parties may be threatened, thus creating new strains on the relationship.
Elderly parents now require care 24/7 in some cases they do not have their own resources to take care of their medical and other needs. There may be siblings but everyone have their own commitments with their immediate family to take care of. To avoid having to deal with family politics you may not want to use the resources of the parents to take care of them as you may be accused of depleting family resources. You prefer to play it safe. Care of the elderly may require redesign of existing homes to facilitate their easy movement and care. This state of affairs also comes with its specific dietary constraints and challenges. The cost of medication and frequent doctor’s visits that may include house calls is a reality.
The usual result is that persons who are able may have to continue in employment – in some instances competing with recent school leavers for limited job places exacerbating the unemployment situation amongst the youth. It may also be an opportunity for those capable, to enter some form of self employment thus living their life’s purpose and utilizing their skills and experience to contribute to the economic development of the county and their own physical, financial and mental well being.
SOLUTION: Do not depend only on your NIC contributions ; INVEST IN SOME FORM OF PENSION PLANNING that will pay you an adequate monthly sum or other appropriate forms of investment that allows for multiple sources of income by the time you are in that situation. (It is not too early to speak with a financial planner/advisor but whatever you do, do not depend only on NIC and the pension plan that your company contributed to). Proper planning can make the difference between a life of abject poverty and destitution or a life style commensurate with the standard of living that you have grown accustomed to. Investment in real estate has so far proven to be beneficial to most people. The more adventurous have looked at other high risk/high return forms of investment in the stock market and other financial instruments.
Young adults have been advised to save at least 10% of their monthly income in preparation for retirement. It is fool hardy to say that you may not live to see retirement age. We do not have that power or foreknowledge, we do not know how long we may be around for and the circumstances we are likely to find ourselves in sometimes due to unforeseen medical conditions or other situations that befall us. This may sound farfetched to a 30 year old but it is never too early to begin such planning. When you get to the ripe old age of 65 you will be happy that you did. You are now 30 think of where you were twenty years ago and imagine thirty five years hence. You had better believe time flies.
Look around you and see the people that you considered as strong, no nonsense, strict, stern, independent adults twenty years ago, what do they look like now. Get the picture that could well be you twenty, thirty years, forty years from now.
Arrangements for retirement are usually grossly inadequate and you are never too young to begin to think of these plans. You need to plan now and take appropriate action to ensure that you end years are not spent in destitution. It is not uncommon to visit a home for the aged and see professionals, retired civil servants, teachers, nurses living in these conditions sometimes without adequate contributions to the institutions, at the mercy of all and sundry.
Some persons chose to enter these institutions because of the companionship that they offer. Ensure that if you make that choice you are in a position to pay for the services that will be rendered to you. Sometime even these persons may have had their own homes, these have over time gotten into a state of disrepair. Sometimes the homes are too big for them to manage in their old age, there may not be any close family members willing and or able to provide assistance or support. Children may have migrated and the envelope syndrome may not generate sufficient income to take care of all the needs of their aging or elderly parents. Remember we always need people and it is Barbara Streisand who reminds us that “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.”
A glimmer of hope for home owners is for the financial institutions to offer the facility known as “reverse mortgages” where aging home owners can live off the equity generated from homes that have been fully paid for. If this facility becomes available then the investment in purchasing homes would be well worth it as the equity could be used to take care of all the needs of the home owner if they do not otherwise possess the means to do so. It also means that offspring or other family members who wish to inherit the property would have no choice but to contribute to the upkeep of aging parents.
Whilst you have the capacity and capability save for the time when you will have neither. Open a separate account regardless of how small, for that purpose. If you work for another 25 years and you saved $100.00 every month you would have saved $30,000.00 and it would have earned compound interest. No one will hand that sum to you when the time comes, but you have the capacity now to earn it. Most financial institutions now offer retirement plans that you may find both affordable and useful.
The saying a stitch in time saves nine in instructive when it comes to the RETIREMENT STORY. Planning and saving for a rainy day is good advice. Do not depend on what your parents have, what they own may all be needed to take care of them in their later years. With the time value of money being what it is what may seem like a huge sum now may be insufficient in the next ten years to take care of basic needs. The good book tells us “Blessed is the child who has his own.”
Thecla C. Deterville
April 2010.
The National Insurance Corporation (NIC) pays insurance contributions at 63 what do you do in the meantime?
Your company had a pension plan which you contributed to. You took a lump sum and not a monthly payment as the annuities offered for monthly payments are not attractive.
The lump sum is invested and you are expecting to live off the interest which is paid annually as monthly interest may be insufficient to cover basic necessities.
Monthly income now falls far short of current expenditure. You now have access to less than 50% of your previous monthly salary.
SCENARIO
The house is paid for in full or your mortgage is still current.
The car is paid off in full or there is still a balance due on your car loan.
You have other loans with banks or other financial institutions.
Your house has a second mortgage on it to finance the University Education of a child or children.
There may be a loan at the Credit Union for prior major medical expenses.
ONGOING EXPENSES; these could be;
Car insurance
Vehicle servicing, maintenance and repair
House Insurance
Medical Insurance
Life Insurance
These all have to be paid monthly.
HOME MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS
The roof of the house needs to be changed.
The house needs painting inside and outside; the kitchen cupboards are rotting and needs to be replaced.
The solar heater has gone bad.
The bathroom needs to be redesigned to take into account your current physical state or that of elderly parents living with you.
The refrigerator, the cooker, the kettle, the toaster, the toaster oven, the washing machine, the dryer, the dish washer etc. These have to be replaced to help you maintain the standard of living that you have become accustomed to.
The monthly grocery bills, the petrol bill, the water bill, the telephone and cell bills, the electricity bills, doctors bills, medication, the vet bills, the gas bill, the domestic help, the gardener and the list goes on and on.
The children have just begun to work and have their own expenses to meet including their students loan.(Remember you mortgaged your family home to rase the required sum for the university education so repayment of that loan is certainly a priority.) Not all the children have honoured that commitment and such a situation could have you in dier straits. They also want their own car and apartment.
The spouse may no longer be in the picture. Or may be, if so some assistance is available the pensions can be combined and the family can sell one of the cars and make do with one car in the family. This creates some pressure for two individuals who previously had differing interest and did their own thing. The independence of both parties may be threatened, thus creating new strains on the relationship.
Elderly parents now require care 24/7 in some cases they do not have their own resources to take care of their medical and other needs. There may be siblings but everyone have their own commitments with their immediate family to take care of. To avoid having to deal with family politics you may not want to use the resources of the parents to take care of them as you may be accused of depleting family resources. You prefer to play it safe. Care of the elderly may require redesign of existing homes to facilitate their easy movement and care. This state of affairs also comes with its specific dietary constraints and challenges. The cost of medication and frequent doctor’s visits that may include house calls is a reality.
The usual result is that persons who are able may have to continue in employment – in some instances competing with recent school leavers for limited job places exacerbating the unemployment situation amongst the youth. It may also be an opportunity for those capable, to enter some form of self employment thus living their life’s purpose and utilizing their skills and experience to contribute to the economic development of the county and their own physical, financial and mental well being.
SOLUTION: Do not depend only on your NIC contributions ; INVEST IN SOME FORM OF PENSION PLANNING that will pay you an adequate monthly sum or other appropriate forms of investment that allows for multiple sources of income by the time you are in that situation. (It is not too early to speak with a financial planner/advisor but whatever you do, do not depend only on NIC and the pension plan that your company contributed to). Proper planning can make the difference between a life of abject poverty and destitution or a life style commensurate with the standard of living that you have grown accustomed to. Investment in real estate has so far proven to be beneficial to most people. The more adventurous have looked at other high risk/high return forms of investment in the stock market and other financial instruments.
Young adults have been advised to save at least 10% of their monthly income in preparation for retirement. It is fool hardy to say that you may not live to see retirement age. We do not have that power or foreknowledge, we do not know how long we may be around for and the circumstances we are likely to find ourselves in sometimes due to unforeseen medical conditions or other situations that befall us. This may sound farfetched to a 30 year old but it is never too early to begin such planning. When you get to the ripe old age of 65 you will be happy that you did. You are now 30 think of where you were twenty years ago and imagine thirty five years hence. You had better believe time flies.
Look around you and see the people that you considered as strong, no nonsense, strict, stern, independent adults twenty years ago, what do they look like now. Get the picture that could well be you twenty, thirty years, forty years from now.
Arrangements for retirement are usually grossly inadequate and you are never too young to begin to think of these plans. You need to plan now and take appropriate action to ensure that you end years are not spent in destitution. It is not uncommon to visit a home for the aged and see professionals, retired civil servants, teachers, nurses living in these conditions sometimes without adequate contributions to the institutions, at the mercy of all and sundry.
Some persons chose to enter these institutions because of the companionship that they offer. Ensure that if you make that choice you are in a position to pay for the services that will be rendered to you. Sometime even these persons may have had their own homes, these have over time gotten into a state of disrepair. Sometimes the homes are too big for them to manage in their old age, there may not be any close family members willing and or able to provide assistance or support. Children may have migrated and the envelope syndrome may not generate sufficient income to take care of all the needs of their aging or elderly parents. Remember we always need people and it is Barbara Streisand who reminds us that “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.”
A glimmer of hope for home owners is for the financial institutions to offer the facility known as “reverse mortgages” where aging home owners can live off the equity generated from homes that have been fully paid for. If this facility becomes available then the investment in purchasing homes would be well worth it as the equity could be used to take care of all the needs of the home owner if they do not otherwise possess the means to do so. It also means that offspring or other family members who wish to inherit the property would have no choice but to contribute to the upkeep of aging parents.
Whilst you have the capacity and capability save for the time when you will have neither. Open a separate account regardless of how small, for that purpose. If you work for another 25 years and you saved $100.00 every month you would have saved $30,000.00 and it would have earned compound interest. No one will hand that sum to you when the time comes, but you have the capacity now to earn it. Most financial institutions now offer retirement plans that you may find both affordable and useful.
The saying a stitch in time saves nine in instructive when it comes to the RETIREMENT STORY. Planning and saving for a rainy day is good advice. Do not depend on what your parents have, what they own may all be needed to take care of them in their later years. With the time value of money being what it is what may seem like a huge sum now may be insufficient in the next ten years to take care of basic needs. The good book tells us “Blessed is the child who has his own.”
Thecla C. Deterville
April 2010.
Monday, February 15, 2010
WATER IS LIFE CONSERVE IT
WATER IS LIFE CONSERVE IT
Over the past two week we have all had a lesson in what it means to conserve water. A popular topic of conversation is how to have a shower with a bucket of water. Those of us who have discovered that tanks we thought were filled are infarct dried have had a rude awakening. To top this off even if you were able to place an order for a 3,000 gallon delivery that too was not available following the shut down by WASCO.
The other interesting observation is, if you had the opportunity to follow one of these water trucks up North you would be amazed to see how much of the 3,000 gallons actually get to the intended destination as the water is spilled all along the way. Can something be done to prevent this? I would hope so, obviously the driver is not aware of how much water is being lost and wasted along the route. And the person who has paid for the water has no way of knowing that they have not received the number of gallows they have paid for.
Well for my part I want to share some simple but effective water conservation tips with you. I am sure you too have discovered some.
Please ensure that there is a container near the sink where you can keep water to wash your face and brush your teeth. Having the tap run whilst you are undertaking either of these activities can amount to a massive waste of a priceless commodity which is in short supply.
Another area is, when testing for hot water we allow the tap to run until the water gets to the right temperature; please get a bucket or bath tub to collect that water. That contain can also be kept in the shower or tub to collect the excess water that falls from the tap when we are having a shower. This water can be recycled and used to flush the toilet or mop the bathroom floor.
Do not use the dish washer. Washing dishes with a blocked sink is a sure way of conservation. We may even have to consider not using the washing machines for some time and reverting to hand washing of cloths. This experience is one that may well be preparing us for a situation that can worsen, let us not take things for granted and play our part in conserving this precious commodity. It is better that we take these conservation measures now and have water left in our tanks if things return to normal rather that have to suffer further hardship.
The low rainfall can also have an impact on our food production and ultimately the cost of food. It also has implications for lifestock and the general health of the nation.
Those of us who want to continue to water our plants should do so from recycled water or collect water from rivers and streams to do so. River water could also be used for washing vehicles. It is not uncommom to see popular river spots around the island being used as a car wash, find yourself a convenient location. We cannot afford to use our limited supply for activities such as these. The statement, WATER IS LIFE CONSERVE IT, has taken on new meaning. Let us be sensitive to our current situation, blaming WASCO is not the answer we must all play our part or be prepared to suffer the consequences. Let us be our brothers’ keep, share ideas and ensure that our households practice the water conservation tips that are being disseminated over the media.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Over the past two week we have all had a lesson in what it means to conserve water. A popular topic of conversation is how to have a shower with a bucket of water. Those of us who have discovered that tanks we thought were filled are infarct dried have had a rude awakening. To top this off even if you were able to place an order for a 3,000 gallon delivery that too was not available following the shut down by WASCO.
The other interesting observation is, if you had the opportunity to follow one of these water trucks up North you would be amazed to see how much of the 3,000 gallons actually get to the intended destination as the water is spilled all along the way. Can something be done to prevent this? I would hope so, obviously the driver is not aware of how much water is being lost and wasted along the route. And the person who has paid for the water has no way of knowing that they have not received the number of gallows they have paid for.
Well for my part I want to share some simple but effective water conservation tips with you. I am sure you too have discovered some.
Please ensure that there is a container near the sink where you can keep water to wash your face and brush your teeth. Having the tap run whilst you are undertaking either of these activities can amount to a massive waste of a priceless commodity which is in short supply.
Another area is, when testing for hot water we allow the tap to run until the water gets to the right temperature; please get a bucket or bath tub to collect that water. That contain can also be kept in the shower or tub to collect the excess water that falls from the tap when we are having a shower. This water can be recycled and used to flush the toilet or mop the bathroom floor.
Do not use the dish washer. Washing dishes with a blocked sink is a sure way of conservation. We may even have to consider not using the washing machines for some time and reverting to hand washing of cloths. This experience is one that may well be preparing us for a situation that can worsen, let us not take things for granted and play our part in conserving this precious commodity. It is better that we take these conservation measures now and have water left in our tanks if things return to normal rather that have to suffer further hardship.
The low rainfall can also have an impact on our food production and ultimately the cost of food. It also has implications for lifestock and the general health of the nation.
Those of us who want to continue to water our plants should do so from recycled water or collect water from rivers and streams to do so. River water could also be used for washing vehicles. It is not uncommom to see popular river spots around the island being used as a car wash, find yourself a convenient location. We cannot afford to use our limited supply for activities such as these. The statement, WATER IS LIFE CONSERVE IT, has taken on new meaning. Let us be sensitive to our current situation, blaming WASCO is not the answer we must all play our part or be prepared to suffer the consequences. Let us be our brothers’ keep, share ideas and ensure that our households practice the water conservation tips that are being disseminated over the media.
A stitch in time saves nine.
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