Dear Editor,
I once lived at Lethem during the latter part of the 60s, mid 70s and mid 80s and went through hell and high water to get my retirement pension and gratuity and NIS pension. As a matter of fact I had to use the influence of “the old school tie” with the then Prime Minister Hammy Green (we are QC old students) in order to enjoy some degree of success in 1983. At present, we all know that now we have a different government that continually boasts of better conditions of living etc for all Guyanese citizens whether old or young but alas, these have been idle boasts as it’s not happening. Not in Region 9 at least. I usually call some old friends who live at Lethem (Thanks to GT&T and Digicel) and learnt quite recently that the NIS pensioners of Region 9 are in misery after not receiving their pensions for months for this year and 2009.

What must be borne in mind by the “powers that be” of the so called “efficient” government is that all pensioners in all regions rely on their pension to help feed and clothe themselves and when there is an inefficient cog in the wheel that deals with social services people, especially old people suffer, and yes die.

The present government needs to deal more efficiently with Region 9 now. In the “old” days the Rupununi was referred to by those enjoying city life as the “cow’s tail.” Please, oh please, the Rupununi has become more and more accessible both by road and air.

Please do not treat the residents there as inhabitants of the “cow’s tail” and continue to callously ignore them. Region 9 needs most emphatically, a resident N.I.S officer.

The “Powers that be” should send up an officer now. He should be told that Region 9 (Lethem) is a very nice place to live. Let him or her know that it is a region noted for beef, beauty and Brazilian brotherhood.

Yours faithfully,
Jim Holder
A.K.A Jungle Jim