AFC MP Sheila Holder has challenged Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand to post the entire database of local old age pensioners on the internet so that the citizenry can ensure that there are no unqualified persons collecting pension.
Speaking at the AFC’s election campaign launch at the International Conference Centre recently, Holder maintained her position that there are thousands of phantom persons drawing old age pension and vowed to continue her fight until all of them are removed.
“If indeed she [Manickchand] has nothing to fear, let her post the entire database on the web. Then you and I can check that list to ensure that there are no rogues collecting money instead of the old people of this country,” Holder said.
Holder, while contributing to the 2011 Budget Debate, accused the government of using the Old Age Pension Programme to divert public funds, noting that over the last four years there has been a sharp increase in the number of old age pensioners and a consequent increase in government expenditure in this area. Based on a self-conducted study, she charged that there are some 17,640 “phantom pensioners” and alleged that “the monthly haemorrhage from the Old Age Pension fund is over $116 million or $1.3 billion annually.”
Manickchand dismissed Holder’s study saying that it was filled with “strange mathematics” which deliberately misrepresented the state of the Old Age Pension Programme. Manickchand also argued that there were several plausible reasons for the increase in the number of old age pensioners in recent years and then explained to the House why there had been such marked increase in the numbers. The minister also called on the opposition member to apologise or resign as a parliamentarian.
Holder, however, said she would not back down. “If Priya Manickchand thinks that I’m going to be fearful of her threats and her nonsense, let her think again. I have a duty to defend the people of this country and I do not scare easily,” she said to a resounding applause from the audience.
“So let her take note. I’m not done with this issue. It will continue to be pressed until the phantoms are removed from the system,” Holder added.
“My only purpose for doing that study was to ensure that old age pensioners get their just deserves. And I say to you that if you remove the frauds from the system, they [the pensioners] can be given double what they are getting now,” the AFC’s prime ministerial candidate said.
