National honour recipient Joe Issa has congratulated Ida Troupe who has reached the age of 117 years, becoming the second Jamaican to reach that milestone this year.
The Jamaica Observer who reported on Troupe’s 117th birthday celebration on Christmas Day carried a JIS photo showing her surrounded by Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie, family members, relatives and friends at her home in West Kingston.
“Thanks to Ms Troupe the barrier has been broken yet again after Ms Moss-Brown did only recently. It is incredible that we have done it not once but twice, going beyond the 115-year limit for female and 114 years for a male.
“Even more amazing is that they reached the same milestone in the same year. This means that Jamaica had two living citizens age 117 years in 2017, a feat not likely to be repeated next year as, apart from Ms Troupe, I have not heard of any other person even close to that age.
“We must be the first country to achieve this, and I think there may be something in how they led their lives that could be instructive for today’s lifestyle,” said Issa, who promotes a healthy lifestyle through community sports.
Issa, who had earlier congratulated Violet Moss-Brown from Duanvale, Trelawny, for making it to the Guinness Book of World Records in July this year as the World’s Oldest Living Person and Oldest Living Woman at age 117, was this time expressing similar sentiments in respect of Ida Troupe, who is now awaiting confirmation by Guinness Book of Records.
He said in the recent article that “our current and future generations of young people must be raised with the knowledge and belief that they can live much longer and fruitful lives if they make the right choices for their health, and that means doing the right things right.”
Troupe, a retired vendor who was born on December 25, 1900, was said to be among the first group of individuals who moved into the 1963 housing development in Tivoli Gardens. She still resides in the community.
Acting on behalf of the government, McKenzie reportedly said he was elated to be honouring Troupe on her birthday, noting, “She has lived through so many events we only read about, including the 1907 earthquake, Hurricane Charlie of 1951, colonial government, and internal self-government.”
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Olivia Grange was also said to be present at Troupe’s celebration.
Joseph Issa, Jamaica, Sea, Sand and Sun 