Bank lifts spirits of elders

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 21 July 2017, 12:00AM

The Bank of the South Pacific Group has presented $10,000 cash and $2,000 worth of food products to the Home of the Aged at Mapuifagalele.

Senior Bank officials are in the country for their Annual Board Meeting. They brought Father Damian Flemning as well as the P.N.G Cardinal John Ribat with them.

Chairman of the Group Sir Kostas Constantinou said this is not the first time they have helped Mapuifagalele.

“We were here four months ago and donated water tanks and Sister told me this morning that it’s working very well,” he said.

“The money that was used to buy those water tanks was raised by B.S.P staff.

“The Mapuifagalele Home of the Aged is an integral part of our community and we are proud to support it. This is a testament of the B.S.P’s reputation for supporting the communities that we operate in.”

He added that this will be another one of their many community projects for 2017 and many more years to come.

Cardinal John Ribat told the Samoa Observer he is delighted to be in Samoa.

“The country is very interesting and this is my first time here,” he said.

“The people are very respective and also very supportive and that gives me a different understanding of the people of Samoa and for just a short time that I have been here I am actually enjoying myself here.

“I met with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi this morning and that was very interesting.

“This visit here gives me an understanding that people do care for our senior citizens and respect them so it’s amazing and I am honoured to be here.

 “I also met with the Archbishop Alapati Mataeliga and he had invited me and Father Damian to join him on the Sunday mass so I am looking forward to it.”

Mother Mamea Alosia thanaked the B.S.P Group for their support.

“Here at the Home of the Elders we live by donations and public support,” she told the gathering. “We have 44 elderly people living here but with only seven Sisters and some staff members who are working here to care for our elderly mother and fathers.

“Your visit today came as a surprise but we are grateful that God has never forsaken us. We have nothing to offer you except for our prayers as well as the mothers and fathers here who with their prayers are more powerful.”

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 21 July 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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