Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter on behalf of the thousands of NIS pensioners who have not received any increase in their pensions this year simply because their pension is above the new minimum of $43,000 per month which was announced in this year ‘s budget. Editor, this government would never learn, stumbling from one crisis to the next, because of poor planning and decision-making. It seems when it comes to the poor and needy of this country, this government cannot find money to make life easier for them, but can find billions for the country’s elite.
How can you justify someone who is getting $44,000 per month in pension not receiving any increase? As Swatan and Ursilla told me, ‘Mr. Baccus it is not fair, if this trend continues, the people who are getting the minimum will surpass us although we worked hard and give long years of service and contributed more to the NIS than them.’ People who are above the minimum are crying discrimination and are lamenting how this government can give some pensioners an increase and not all pensioners. The right thing they could have done was to give the pensioners who are above the minimum a 22% increase which is the average between the old and new minimum so that all pensioners will receive the same increase.
I am wondering if the President, Vice President and Minister of Finance were in our shoes what they would have done? I am sure they would have shouted at the top of their voices, discrimination!!! I started this letter by mentioning poor planning and decision-making. Please, when these three were formulating the budget, how could they not see that it was a poor decision to give some pensioners an increase and not all pensioners? How could they not see that this was discrimination? Let me tell you something, this has nothing to do with politics, because PPP supporters are bawling the most. So please, let them do the right thing and give an increase to the NIS pensioners who are above the minimum. Thousands of pensioners are waiting.
Sincerely,
Imtiaz Baccus
