Dear Editor,
Since Ms Beresford assumed office at the Ministry of Social Protection at Anna Regina there has been a dramatic turnaround in the services for old age pensioners. They do not have to join long lines anymore in the hot sun to receive their pension books. They are treated with respect. In the past the sick and disabled had to join long lines, some of them were turned away without receiving their books because of some hiccups in the system.
Those who travel from the outlying areas like the Tapakuma, Mainstay, Whyaka and Capoey lakes, were the worst affected. All this has changed since she has assumed office. Pensioners are now receiving their books promptly without any hassle. Since Ms Beresford came to Region Two, she has visited the sick, bedridden pensioners at their homes and delivered their books to their families, they do not have to go to the office anymore like in the past.
The only officer I had seen visiting the homes of the old age pensioners in the past, was Mr Ricardo Banwarie. After he was promoted and transferred to the Georgetown head office, no one else took the time off to carry on the job where he left off. The rest who succeeded him became arm chair officers. You couldn’t see them in the fields distributing pension books, pensioners had to travel from Charity and Supenaam to Anna Regina to collect their books, spending the whole day without meals.
All this has changed since Ms Beresford, assumed office. She has set aside one day in each month to visit and interact with the old pensioners to hear their problems and at the same time use the opportunity to deliver their books at the Charity and Supenaam NDC office. People from as far as Karawab and St Monica in the Pomeroon River are finding it more easy to receive their old age pension books. Ms Beresford is working in the office from 7 am to 6 pm each working day to get her job done to service the people of this region.
Essequibians are thankful to have such an officer like Ms Beresford. We hope that she will continue the good work.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan