Dear Editor,
I, like so many other persons, had expected the old age pension to be increased to twenty thousand dollars. However, with the additional benefits to be given, the $1,200.00 increase is a sign that the government has the interest of the pensioners at heart. The other announcement that is so welcome is the Minister of Finance’s plan to address what he dubbed “the plight” of former public servants and parliamentarians whose pensions have been substantially eroded because of inflation over the years. Like the Minister’s proposal to increase the pensions payable to former employees of the Guyana Telecommunications Corporation, I wish he would also visit the Guyana Power & Light Corporation and become familiar with the pensions paid to former employees there.
When a GPL employee reaches 60/65 years of age (the retirement age) and opts for a monthly pension instead of a lump sum, the monthly pension paid on the first month after retirement will remain the same until the former employee dies. There are no increases whatsoever. This is ridiculous given the fact that whenever the costs of goods and services are increased those increases are being borne by pensioners too. At a forum in 2014 this concern was raised by the pensioners and the former CEO of GPL stated that the company was in no position financially to increase the pensions paid. We all know what was revealed thereafter.
The Opposition Leader has made several comments with regard to the 2016 Budget and said that the “good life” can’t start with this budget. If it is true that the government attempted to have dialogue with the opposition on the budget but it bore no fruit, then the opposition party must be blamed for the budget not reflecting or addressing its views and expectations, and most importantly, what was required to stimulate growth, so confidence would be restored and the good life would beckon.
Yours faithfully,
Colin Gill
