Mr. President
Excellencies
Brothers and Sisters

 In the name of the Government of the Republic of Mauritius and on behalf of my delegation, I acclaim the laudable initiative of the United Nations and the Spanish Government for bringing together in Madrid major stakeholders across the world to reflect on and evolve an Action Plan on the phenomenon of ageing.

 The “Ageing Revolution” is definitely one of the great challenges we are called upon to address in Madrid at the dawn of this new millenium.  The economics of ageing reveals disquieting features.  May I quote Mr Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 1998:

 “We are in the midst of a silent revolution that extends well beyond demographics, with major economic, social, cultural, psychological and spiritual implications”.

 Mr President,

 This is absolutely true.  We must realize that the ageing issue has also a strong moral implication and, in fact, a moral OBLIGATION for all of us.

 The implications of ageing for economies in transition are simply disturbing and almost unsustainable.  Without help, the LDC’s cannot successfully take up the challenge.  Our commitments and motivation should go well beyond Madrid.  Time is of the essence.  Action and BOLD ACTIONS only will justify our presence here today. The problem of ageing should be seen in its structural and institutional contexts.  It is a complex phenomenon requiring a complex and multidimensional response.

 Excellencies, Brothers and Sisters,

 Mauritius is no exception to the Global Ageing issue.  Presently, there are some 110,000 senior citizens out of a population of 1.2 million in the Republic of Mauritius.  They are grouped in over 500 Senior Citizens Clubs operating under the Senior Citizen Council whose main objective is to provide for the general welfare and security of the elderly.  It is expected that the elderly citizens will represent 21% of the population by 2037.

 However, it is our conviction that the ageing population should not be considered as a crisis and inimical to development.  We believe in meaningful and planned ageing.

 Mauritius is a very cosmopolitan society and our ancestors came from Europe, Africa, China and the Indian sub-continent.  We have, however, been able to preserve ‘Unity in Diversity’ and face the challenges of development due to the contribution of our elderly in nation-building and capacity building over the years.

 It is befitting, therefore, Mr President, that they are not left behind today in the process of socio-economic development as they still have a vital role to play in the family as well as in society.  The elderly are in fact effectively serving as a powerful circuit of cultural, social, moral values which a multi-lingual, multicultural and multi-ethnic society like Mauritius will always stand in need of.

 Mr President,

 The Government of Mauritius has set in place a comprehensive social policy in favour of the elderly, which centers on the theme “AGEING WITH DIGNITY”.  Mauritius has been one of the first African countries to have formulated such an official Plan of Action for the elderly.  This national policy espouses to a large extent the principles guiding the Vienna Plan of Action on Ageing (1982) and the United Nations Principles for older people (1991).

 The policy initiatives and advocacy activities evolve around the following core issues:
  -Empowerment
  - Security
  - Independence
  - Involvement in decision-making
  - Recognition
  - Access to information and knowledge
  - Access to leisure and health
  - Access to decent living conditions.

The following measures have already been implemented:
  o The setting up of a Special Fund for the Welfare of the Elderly;
  o The construction of a National Recreation Centre with the support of the People’s Republic of China;
  o The opening of Day Care Centers;
  o The implementation of anti-flu vaccination campaign;
  o The setting up of a Bank of Volunteers through which our elderly citizens share their vast knowledge, skills and experience with the younger  generation and with NGOs;
  o The upgrading of several charitable institutions and the training of carers of our old and disabled citizens with the most valuable support of the government of Luxembourg.

However, we do not have the pretension to  have fully realized our vision for the welfare of the elderly.  We are conscious that we still have a long way to go.  That is why we have come to Madrid with all respect and humility to learn from the experience of our brothers and sisters from  all over the world present here today.
 

Mr President,
 Although we have achieved a lot we continue to say that whatever we do and however much we do, we shall NEVER EVER, be able to pay back to our elders every drop of sweat and every drop of blood they have given to our motherland and to us, their children and grandchildren.

Mr President, Brothers and Sisters,

No action plan will succeed if commitment at the national, regional and international levels is not present.  However, commitment alone is not enough.  Still more important are the means to translate commitment into CONCRETE ACTIONS.  This is what the elderly throughout the world are expecting from us, i.e. from this very important assembly.

Tiny Mauritius had the unique privilege of hosting the regional preparatory meeting for Africa.  As we all know, life expectancy continues to drop in several African nations, contrary to countries in other parts of the world.  Before I leave the floor, I feel it my duty today to make a special appeal, deep down from my heart, to privileged nations for a special consideration to empower Africa in its struggle for the protection and welfare of our elderly.

Mr President,  my appeal to colleague ministers is that although we need political will and commitment to achieve our goals, we must not, at any moment, think of our deeds and achievements as a favour to the elderly.  Le us not even think of dividends in terms of votes.  We are in fact simply doing our Duty with a big D to our mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers.  We can only expect their much needed blessing in return.  Last but not least I have a special word for brothers and sisters from the NGO’s.  Prior to being involved in politics I had been actively involved for more than two decades at the grassroot level with the training of social workers at home and in other countries, especially Africa.  As a consequence I am well aware of your hopes, your constraints your joys and your frustrations. But fortunately enough genuine social workers never abandon the struggle they have chosen.  Let us from Madrid strengthen further this global network.  May God bless this wonderful network of genuinely committed  government agencies and NGO’s.

I thank you, Mr President.