Photos and interviews by Feona Morrison and Javone Vickerie
The 2013 budget proposes that pensioners receive an increase in old age pension from $10,000 to $12,500 in the 2013 Budget as well as an annual assistance of up to $20,000 to pay for electricity charges incurred. We asked elderly persons for their views on this. Their responses were as follows:
Norma Frank – ‘I believe that it is something good because now that it has raised we can be able to purchase more things in the market. With the exemption from GPL it would help out a lot.’
Robert Blair – ‘This is not sufficient money for pensioners to have. That can’t even reach the requirements some people need like medication and food. For me $20,000 would be more than enough for any elderly person to survive on. The opposition should have fought for it to be raised in Parliament; sit down and rethink about all the old people who worked hard and help build this nation.’
Frankie Shaka – ‘For me I am a working man with my own business so I don’t really feel the squeeze but it’s for those who worked hard all their lives and get $10,000. $12,500 is not enough to pay phone and light bill so no matter how many exemptions they get it is not going to make sense.’
Ruby Britton – ‘I get social security from the United States so it does not really affect me but for those who depend on it to live it is not enough. Things are expensive here in Guyana for everyone there are no exemptions for old people, we pay expensive prices in the market like everyone; else at least $20,000 would be okay.’
Ilene Stuart – ‘Well whatever we have to collect I am contented for it. Of course it could have been more but it is good enough for me we still have to live. I am glad that they will make exemptions for us with the utility bills.’
Veronica Goring – ‘We have to be contented and try with whatever we get because we still have to live.’
Richard Smith – ‘I do not think that this money is adequate enough to maintain an elderly person. The cost of living is very high and as soon as you go into the market with that money it finishes. As soon as you break a thousand dollars, it done. I think that pension should be raised to $25,000. A pint of rice and everything in the market had skyrocketed.’
Jumon Rasheed- ‘I am not a pensioner as yet but I think that it is sufficient enough. I think that the raise would be something good for the elderly.’
Lawrence Ramsammy – ‘The cost of living is very high. I do not think that money can maintain anyone for a month. I am an 85-year-old pensioner with heart problems and a lot of other complications. I spend like about $10,000 to $12, 000 on medications. It cannot maintain someone on a monthly basis but we are still thankful for it.’
Eleanor Clemonson – ‘I am paying a light bill in my mother’s name so I will not benefit from any the exemption. The money should be raised like $15,000 more because $12,500 is not enough.’
