Minister Addresses Age Concern Annual GM

The Minister of Community and Cultural Development, Wayne Scott, spoke at the Age Concern Annual General Meeting earlier yesterday afternoon [June 5] at Charities House, regarding age discrimination and the Human Rights Act Amendment Bill.

“Ageing happens to all of us. We are born, we grow up and we eventually pass on. We don’t live forever. The experience of HOW we are treated because of our age is often unfavourable –and often constitutes discrimination” Minister Scott said.

“All ages can be discriminated against, teenagers are considered shifty and untrustworthy, elderly considered incapable, youth considered boisterous.

“It affects not only the people who are discriminated against, but also those who lose valuable relationships by judging them based on age.

“Some of the typical experiences young people face are – can’t rent accommodation, can’t get a job, not enough experience, not focused enough – these are all perceptions that people hold of young people.

“Conversely, as regards to older people the typical experience is – too old, too slow, can’t be trained, lack of analytical ability, lack of intellectual capacity etc. The old saying “can’t teach old dogs new tricks” comes to mind.

“People who are discriminated against, no matter the reason, can be hurt by it. Age discrimination is the same as racial discrimination, or religious discrimination.

“This Government has made it very clear that discrimination will not be tolerated and announced in the Throne Speech in February this year that it would introduce amendments to the Human Rights Act to ensure that no one is discriminated against on the basis of age or sexual orientation.

“The intent of the Human Rights Amendment Act 2013 is to continue the modernization and strengthening of Bermuda’s human rights framework. These provisions, which are long overdue, reflect international best practice and standards and will give protection against discrimination.

“The Human Rights Act Amendment Bill will soon be debated in the House of Assembly. The Bill seeks to include protection against age discrimination in regards to goods, services and facilities and accommodation.

“This means that all persons applying for or receiving services in the areas of health and social care, housing, financial services, insurance, education and training should be treated on an individual basis in a way that respects their innate dignity.

“I must note here that there is no intention of removing the free, discounted or more favourable goods, facilities, services or treatment that maybe offered to persons 65 years and over. We recognize that these are benefits that are made available to seniors to assist them in their later years.

“This Government is very aware that age discrimination in employment is a serious concern and my Ministry is working diligently on determining the impact on pensions and retirement if age discrimination is extended to the Human Rights Act regarding employment.

“However, it was very important to us to ensure that whilst this research is being conducted we did not delay adding protection from age discrimination in relation to the provision of goods, services, facilities and accommodation.

“The Department of Human Affairs which is a Department in my Ministry with responsibility for human rights, race relations and gender affairs in Bermuda is undertaking the necessary research and consultation with regard to;

• age and ageism;
• age and employment and associated age discrimination;
• the retirement age; and
• the potential impacts to pensions and insurance.

“The Department began consultations with the internal Government stakeholders in December 2011 with further consultations in May 2012, to discuss the addition of age discrimination to the Human Rights Act 1981 and the issues surrounding the retirement age.

“These stakeholders included the Pensions Commission, the Unions, Bermuda College, CURB, Private sector HR representatives, the Chamber of Commerce, Government departments, Insurance providers, Bermuda Hospitals Board, the Department of Social Insurance, the National Office for Seniors & the Physically Challenged, Age Concern and the Seniors Learning Centre at the Bermuda College. A public consultation in the form of a forum was also held.

“One may ask “why is it taking so long”. The answer is that the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Amendments to the Human Rights Act, reflecting the urgent priorities of changing the functions, processes, and procedures of the Human Rights Commission, together with the upcoming amendment relating to Sexual Orientation took a great deal of time and effort.

“Moving forward, the Department now intends to establish a “Cross Ministry team” to focus on the impact of adding age in relation to employment as a ground of discrimination. The intention is to prepare a report with options for me, as Minister, to consider and then for Cabinet to agree.

“In closing I would like to make it clear that Human Rights are for everyone and I will honour and fulfill that pledge in the House of Assembly in the very near future, with the debating of the Human Rights Amendment Act 2013″, the Minister concluded.

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