CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Department of Human Services (DHS), the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Virgin Islands Elections System, according to ACT NO. 805, hereby notifies the public that all persons who 60 years and older and persons with disabilities who live alone, are invited to enter their names into an Elder, Dependent, Adult and Disabled Person Disaster emergency assistance registry with one of the respective entities above.
Doing so will allow the Department of Human Services to contact the elderly person and provide assistance and support in the event of a man-made or natural disaster.
To Register: Please stop by the Department of Human Services, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Virgin Islands Elections System to fill out the registry form or simply call one of the DHS offices to provide your information and have the form filled out for you.
• St. Thomas – Department of Human Services Knud Hansen Building – Phone: (340) 774- 0930 x 4109
• St. John – Department of Human Services Cruz Bay – Phone: (340) 776-6334
• St. Croix – Richmond Senior Center – Phone: (340) 773-6630
You may also get the form from our website www.dhs.gov.vi (Elder, Dependent, Disabled Disaster Registry), and drop it off to one of the locations above.
At least one commetn on social media took issue with the Virgin Islands Free Press‘ use of the phrase “old people” instead of “senior citizens.”
“Thank god I middle young but why this article did not use seniors instead of old people?” Malik Stridiron asked on St. Thomas today.
The V.I. Free Press responded this way to the reader Mr. Stridiron.
“Thank you for your question, Mr. Stridiron,” reporter John McCarthy wrote. “The Virgin Islands Free Press follows the Associated Press style book. So senior citizens are called “old people” and people who “pass away” are said to have “died.” It is clearer language with less ambiguity.”
Nevertheless, Mr. Stridiron persisted in his opinion.
“But it is best to say seniors than old people,” Stridiron insisted. “Age 60 and above is the age for the registry. If I 60 I ain’t to be labeled as old.”
The V.I. Freep responded again.
“When you have written a journalist’s style book that is followed by the majority of the American press, our online newspaper will give all due consideration to your comments,” McCarthy wrote. “Good day to you sir.”