Denise Daley urges stronger help for seniors using digital banking and Government services

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesperson on Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly Denise Daley says Jamaica needs stronger safeguards for senior citizens as banking and Government services move further into digital spaces.

Speaking during her presentation in the 2026 Sectoral Debate in Parliament, Daley said technology has made many services more efficient, but it has also opened up fresh difficulties for older Jamaicans who find it hard to use key services online.

She said many seniors do not have smartphones, steady internet service or the digital know-how needed to manage online banking and Government platforms. Because of that, she argued, many elderly people end up relying on relatives, neighbours or even people they do not know to collect pensions and handle other financial transactions, exposing themselves when they share private banking details.

As one response to that widening gap, Daley proposed that every cashless banking location and every Government office offering digital services should have trained customer service representatives on hand throughout the business day to help elderly clients. She said those workers should be easy to identify and backed by clear signs so seniors can seek help with confidence.

“Support should never depend upon luck or the kindness of strangers. It should be part of the service itself.”

Daley also called on policymakers to make sure Jamaica’s digital transition stays open and usable for every citizen. “Cashless banking must never become people-less banking. Nor should it become defenceless banking,” she said.