Former APNU+AFC Member of Parliament and Regional Development Officer for Region Six, Barbara Pilgrim on Friday requested President Irfaan Ali’s assistance in ensuring that her benefits are paid to her.
Pilgrim told the president during his outreach in New Amsterdam that she was the region’s community development officer which falls under the Ministry of Local Government.
“When I got a letter of termination on the 11th of August, I was on annual leave on to the 20th of August, at the end of August I was entitled to six months gratuity and I have not been paid the six months gratuity although I made representation”.
She added, “Your Excellency I don’t mind if I’ve been terminated but I’m entitled to certain benefits”.
President Ali after listening to her issue stated that he would request a report on the matter, after which she would be informed about the way forward. He noted that attorney Sase Gunraj, who was also on the outreach would make contact with her today.
Pilgrim also took the opportunity to assure the President that she was indeed working although there is a lingering allegation that developmental officers under the previous administration were not discharging their duties but were still receiving payments.
“The only thing I want to say here Sir is that there is this allegation that people were getting paid and not working, I have all my reports that I used to send”, Pilgrim said.
She noted that the Regional Chairman, David Armogan had spoken to her about the committees that fell under her purview, noting, that while she has all the information she had told Armogan that she would not provide any information until she received her benefits.
President Ali then reminded her that once she worked it was part of her duties to hand over the information and reports, “It’s not a favour to submit the reports its part of your duties”, the President told her.
Pilgrim added, “Yes Sir but it’s not my fault if when I submit my reports to Georgetown they don’t submit it”.
President Ali then encouraged the former member of parliament to submit the reports for the committees.
Pilgrim had been sworn in as a MP on January 3rd 2019. She replaced Charrandass Persaud who had been recalled by APNU+AFC after he had voted in favour of the motion of no-confidence against the government.
