Silent tragedy of pensioners in Guyana

May 03, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
As our lawmakers and leaders now seek to ensure that their retirement years are very, very comfortable, it may be a good time to bring to the fore the silent tragedy of pensioners in Guyana.
Most pensioners in Guyana are enduring the terrible scourge of mendicancy as they battle the daily indignities of an income from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and government that could only be described as inhumane and perhaps criminal.

Most pensioners, except those being adequately supported by relatives, or receiving pensions from the UK or Canada, are disillusioned and depressed at this time when their resources are inadequate to the health challenges which come naturally with age.
These health challenges are further compounded by the stress of having to deal with institutions such as the NIS and the government old age pension scheme.
One wonders if it is not a deliberate scheme on the part of these institutions so as to shorten the lifespan of pensioners.

Parliamentarians should spend one week visiting the department that is supposed to deal with the National Cost of Living Index. Make time within the very week to visit ex judges, magistrates, permanent secretaries, teachers, masters, lecturers, professors, nurses, public servants, estate workers and former labourers and check what they are receiving and expected to live on.
It will surprise many to learn that most of the senior functionaries on this list do not receive in excess of G$19.000.00 per month, which sum is the combined pittances from the NIS and government for those over 65.
Prior to 1989, NIS contributions used to be recorded noting the salary scale of the individual making the contribution. Any human being would extrapolate that the intention was to arrive at a percentage figure based on the current value of your dominant scale(s).

Not so; some heartless person(s) decided that you must not be paid a percentage – let us say for example of – $288.000.00 which scale 11, is valued today, but instead you must receive a share of $4.000.00 which scale 11, represented 15 years ago when you retired.
Whatever is lacking within the system as it relates to an adequate pension for our pensioners, I call upon our parliamentarians to immediately seek to make corrections and bring an end to this shameful situation which is no doubt one of the many curses on Guyana.
Pensioner