Dear Editor,
All eyes are on the Ministry of Social Protection on the matter of anticipated pension book distribution. Ears are glued to the radio and television for those awaited snippets: go on this date, go to that place. I think it is called a catchment area. I even took the liberty of giving unsolicited advice to the ministry on how to make the distribution process a less arduous one, a somewhat seamless one. Believe it or not, from the reports received, the Ministry of Social Protection (Human Services also, I seem to remember) was way ahead of the game, and left the recommendations offered in the dust. Who ever said politicians and public servants do not have the people in mind. Here is the proof (subject to recall, of course).
A lady called asking this question: ‘have you heard anything….?’ It was of the arrival of an announcement about the distribution of the pension books, not a big deal in the blaze of news locally, but of much meaning to those who live off of what having those books in hand represent for the elderly and dependent in Guyana. My counter was even terser: yuh kno anybaddy who collect? Turns out that there were none at the time, which was early last week. What has since transpired, compliments of a thoughtful, proactive, and caring Ministry of Social Protection, put my comments to shame, such as do not listen to hearsay, wait until the newspapers give the details, which should be sometime after midmonth. I really should have stayed silent.
For the Ministry of Social Protection has been distributing pension books. There are confirmed reports of this alien in Guyanese space. I am putting my head on a block that Old Age Pension Books for 2024 are being distributed, with the start date being sometime last week, maybe even earlier. A church brother of immaculate credibility has his book. Imagine the consternation, as is evidenced in these two rather dumb questions: do you have the book in hand (yes)? Is it a real book (yes!)? Guyana does that to citizens, make them question their own sanity. I should be a little miffed, but I see the humour in all this. Aside from humour, which is always welcomed, there is the positive. Distribute the books at the monthly collection places (some of them), and do it early.
It is practical. It stretches out the days from one to several. It kills several birds with one slug of sunbaked mud. There is space, there is convenience, there is ease, and there is an hour or two [dozen] more. Elegant! My god, why didn’t I think of that; I must be getting old. The only slight disquiet comes from trying to figure out why the folks at the Ministry of Social Protection has kept this distribution exercise a state secret. The best publicity is that of a good deed; or so I have been led to believe. A little space taken out in the print media would have been thoughtful and showing how much is cared for old people (the impoverished also). In more acceptable English that would be those making up the geriatric brigade. Still, a really constructive thought from the new person at the ministry, and for which I give all the credit to Minister, Dr. Vidya. Now, I hear that the early distribution of the books is set to terminate soon. Please say it ain’t so, that it is fake new about what is good news.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
