The pensioners’ cash grant distribution which began on Monday continued to be plagued by disorganisation and delays yesterday and it is unclear how many are still to receive their $100,000 cheques from the government.
Some pensioners are now being informed that their cheques are not ready and may not be available until the end of January. Originally they had been assured by President Irfaan Ali that the cheques would be available before November last year. This stretched into December and while thousands of cheques have been shared to persons 18 and over the process has been marred by problems, long lines and lengthy delays.
Hundreds of pensioners who turned up yesterday at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) office in Klien-Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, were informed that their cheques might be at the Leonora branch on the West Coast of Demerara, despite having registered at the Klien-Pouderoyen office. The lack of clear communication has forced some pensioners to make multiple trips between locations, further compounding their frustration.
