Dear Editor,
I’m a frequent listener to the debates in parliament by both the government and the opposition on various matters. As a citizen of Guyana, it has become very clear after looking and listening to the many debates that the ordinary man has nothing to do with the proposals, counter-proposals, arguments and decisions made by those we have voted for. While we wait expecting a better way of life, it’s chaos and confusion.
We continue to glue our ears and eyes to our radios and television sets listening to politicians argue on who should get what and why this and that happens and that, nurses, teachers, policemen, in short, civil servants are forced out of employment because of the retirement age which is 55 years. I’m aware that Guyana has inherited that system, but we achieved republican status well over four decades ago, but continue to send our professionals home who are still young and capable of working, discarded and facing loneliness. They still have all their knowledge and the ability to function quite efficiently in a system which says, ‘Go, we don’t want you any longer!’
Look at some of our parliamentary representatives who are over 55 and 60 years of age and have been battling each other for a very long period of time, and still have the energy and vigour to continue fighting.
My question is, why can’t the law be changed to allow our professionals to continue to serve our country and its people better, and thereafter enjoy their retirement and National Insurance old age benefits to which they would have contributed significantly.
There are workers who would want to retire at age 55 but others should be given a chance to choose for themselves. Let us not force our people into old age before there are really old.
Yours faithfully,
B Winslow Parris
