Nigel Lawrence, President of the Dominica Council on Ageing (DCOA), is urging families and communities across the island to set aside time on Grandparents Day, Sunday, September 13, 2026, to honour the contribution of grandparents to family and community life.
In a statement ahead of the observance, Lawrence said grandparents remain a cornerstone of Dominican society, providing care, guidance and continuity between generations. He encouraged households to mark the day not only with gifts or meals but with meaningful contact — visits, telephone calls and shared stories — particularly for older persons who live alone.
The DCOA has long advocated for the welfare of the elderly in Dominica, pressing for stronger support systems, accessible healthcare and community programmes that allow older citizens to age with dignity. Grandparents Day, observed internationally on the second Sunday of September, offers an annual opportunity to highlight those concerns while celebrating the personal bonds that sustain families.
Lawrence’s appeal comes as many Dominican households continue to rely on grandparents for childcare and household support, even as younger relatives migrate for work or study. In rural parishes and the Kalinago Territory, where distances to services can be long, grandparents often anchor extended families and preserve cultural knowledge, including kweyol language, craft and oral history.
The Council’s message also carries a practical dimension: honouring grandparents means ensuring they are not isolated. Community groups, churches and village councils are being encouraged to organise small gatherings, home visits or recognition events around the date. Such efforts, the DCOA suggests, strengthen the social fabric that supports older persons throughout the year.
For Dominicans in the diaspora, the observance is a reminder to reconnect with elders at home. A call, a video message or a planned visit can mean much to grandparents whose grandchildren live abroad. The Council has previously noted the emotional and practical challenges faced by older persons whose families are scattered across the region and further afield.
Grandparents Day is not a public holiday in Dominica, but it has grown in profile through church services, school activities and family observances. The DCOA’s intervention places the occasion within its wider mission of promoting respect, care and policy attention for the island’s ageing population.
Lawrence’s statement did not announce a specific programme of events, but the Council is expected to continue its advocacy on issues affecting the elderly in the months ahead. Families wishing to mark the day are encouraged to do so simply and sincerely — by making an older relative feel seen, valued and loved.
