Dame Louise Horne says today's politicians need help.
She was speaking after sharing her 102nd birthday celebrations with Elsie Theophilus at the St Peter's Home for the Aged at Mt St Benedict, Upper St John's Road, St Augustine, yesterday.
The pioneering social worker and former senator was born on May 13, 1913.
When Horne was asked what she thought of the behaviour of MPs now in Parliament, she said, "They need help to understand what life really gives and what they could put into life.
"They're not just friends with you because they meet you now so.
"No, they must realise that you have a living and not only that, you have a family and that everything perhaps that they thought that you will do, you don't do at all.
"So that you teach people by your living without you realising that you're doing that."
When asked what was her secret for longevity, she replied that she had no special diet, it was more due to the kind of parents she had.
Horne said a person's parents fixed his or her behaviour. She said she had received from her parents a lot more than many other people would have received from theirs and that's how she managed to live by the grace of God.
Horne said she grew up among church-going people. Her father, James Horne, was Anglican, her mother, Elicina Horne, was Roman Catholic, and her aunt sang in the Santa Rosa choir, so she had been raised to be God-fearing.
She thanked the people for coming out and celebrating her birthday with her, making her feel happy.
Councillor for Auzonville/ Tunapuna Esmond Forde presented plaques to Horne and Theophilus inscribed with their favourite Psalms 130 and 91, respectively.
Also present at the event were Magistrate Gladys Gafoor, Fr Hugh Joyeau, Arima Borough Councillor Hilary Bernard, Dr Lennox Pierre, St Peter's Home manager Charlotte Julien and Elizabeth Julien.
