Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 19 april 2017

At 117, Jamaican woman likely just became world’s oldest

Brown is considered to be world’s oldest person title.
the oldest person in the “It can be a uniquely
world with credible birth complex and sometimes
documentation, accord- lengthy process,” Guinness
ing to Robert Young, direc- spokeswoman Elizabeth
tor of the supercentenarian Montoya said. “There is no
research and database confirmation of a new title
division at Gerontology Re- holder until our thorough
search Group, a network of processes are complete.”
volunteer researchers into Brown has two caregivers
the world’s oldest people. and spends most of the
Its website says she was day resting in the home she
born on March 10, 1900. shares with her 97-year-old
Brown has not yet been son. She is able to sit up
declared the world’s old- by herself and walk short
est by Guinness World Re- distances. And while she
cords, considered to be is hard of hearing, she of-
the official arbiter of the fered swift, complete re-
oldest person title but Guin- sponses to questions about
ness depends heavily on her life and family.
Young’s group. Young said The secret to long life is
he has met Brown and ex- hard work, she said.
The world’s oldest person Violet Brown, center, poses with her care givers Elaine Mcgrowder , left, amined her birth certifi- “I was a cane farmer. I
and Dolet Grant at her home in Duanvale district of Trelawny, Jamaica, Sunday, April 16, 2017. The cate, which was issued by would do every work my-
117-year-old woman living in the hills of western Jamaica is believed to have become the world’s the British authorities who self,” she said. “I worked,
oldest person, according to groups that monitor human longevity. governed Jamaica at the me and my husband, over
(AP Photo/Raymond Simpson) time of her birth. that hill.”
RAYMOND SIMPSON chicken and celebrated Brown told The Associated “She’s the oldest person She also credited her Chris-
Associated Press her 117th birthday last Press she is surprised but that we have sufficient tian faith for her long life.
DUANVALE, Jamaica (AP) month. grateful to have lived this documentation for at this “I’ve done nearly every-
— Violet Brown spent much She is believed to have be- long. time,” Young said. thing at the church,” she
of her life cutting sugar- come the world’s oldest liv- “This is what God has given Jamaica’s prime minister said. “I spent all my time
cane in the fields around ing person over the week- me, so I have to take it — congratulated Brown on in the church. I like to sing.
her home in western Jamai- end following the death long life,” Brown said in an Twitter. Guinness said it I spent all my time in the
ca. She attended church of Emma Morano of Italy, interview in her home in the was researching a number church from a child to right
regularly, avoids pork and born Nov. 29, 1899 town of Duanvale. of candidates for the new up,” to today, she said. q

Venezuela’s Maduro seeks to expand armed civilian militias

FABIOLA SANCHEZ Speaking to thousands of have taken to the streets elans to assist the armed sible for Venezuela’s woes,
Associated Press militia members dressed in since the Supreme Court forces in the defense of including triple-digit infla-
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) beige uniforms gathered stripped the National As- his revolution from exter- tion, rising crime and food
— Embattled Venezuelan in front of the presidential sembly of its last vestiges of nal and domestic attacks. shortages.
President Nicolas Maduro palace to mark the force’s power nearly three weeks Maduro told the militia They also blame Maduro
announced plans this week seventh anniversary, Mad- ago, a decision it later re- Monday that vision remains for ordering security forces
to expand the number of uro said it is time for Ven- versed. At least five people relevant as Venezuela con- to use tear gas against pro-
civilians involved in armed ezuelans to decide if they have been killed, dozens tinues to face “imperialist testers and failing to stop
militias as tensions in the are “with the homeland” or hurt and more than 100 aggression.” pro-government armed
crisis-wracked South Ameri- against it. detained in the demonstra- “A gun for every militia- groups from attacking
can nation continued to “Now is not the time to hesi- tions. man!” he cried. demonstrators.
rise. tate,” he said. The Maduro govern- Maduro’s government Former congresswoman
Maduro said he hopes to The announcement comes ment has vowed to hold claims foreign-backed Maria Corina Machado
expand the number of ci- as Maduro’s opponents are a counter mass gathering opposition leaders are fo- posted a photo of the mi-
vilians involved in the Boli- gearing up for what they Wednesday in defense of menting violence in an at- litia gathering Monday on
varian militias created by pledge will be the largest the socialist movement tempt to remove him from her Twitter account, call-
the late Hugo Chavez to rally yet to press for elec- started by Chavez. power. ing it a, “pathetic, desper-
500,000, up from the cur- tions and a host of other Chavez created the civil- The opposition denies that ate and unconstitutional
rent 100,000, and provide demands Wednesday. ian militias with the goal of assertion, saying it is Mad- attempt by the regimen to
each member with a gun. Thousands of Venezuelans training 1 million Venezu- uro himself who is respon- intimidate Venezuelans.”q