Dear Editor,
It is heartening to hear about the recent agreement between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) about higher pay and greater benefits for present-day teachers. However let us not forget the retired teachers.
Some teachers left teaching after serving for long periods of time between 33 and 70 years in many cases. At the time of retirement the local currency had greater spending power. Since then, there has been a monumental decrease in the value of our dollar. If one were to make a survey, the average retiree from those days receives below twenty thousand dollars monthly.
The government pensioners association (GPA) has been in existence for about sixty years. The writer was once a member but left in frustration because the association’s efforts for improved benefits have been somewhat futile.
Some of us are between the ages of 65 and 80 years and have not been able to live comfortably on our pensions. Houses are being built for current teachers. Why not also for those pensioners who need to live under suitable conditions? The houses should be affordable so that retirees can pay the rent with their pensions.
Yours faithfully,
Malcolm Clarke
