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Repeal Former Presidents Benefits Bill

May 06, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
The Bill pertaining to benefits for ex-presidents recently passed in parliament is unreasonable. This is putting it mildly. More explicit expressions and adjectives come to mind but I’ll refrain from using those.
This is a poor nation and the sitting President is aware of this. How can he justify the benefits associated with this Bill? This and the many other acts of transgression committed on Guyanese leave one in despair for this country and its people, many of whom are mostly poor.
This Bill must be repealed. It is wrong. What is the matter with our lawmakers in Parliament? Are they asleep at the wheel? Are they blind? Or were they probably promised some tidbits?
The ex-presidents must receive a pension using the formula applicable to other public servants. This is two thirds of the last three years salary in their last position. Many public servants who retired 10 or more years ago are now living in abject poverty because their pension was not adjusted for inflation or cost of living increase.
If this Bill remains, then I would live to see all retired public servants receive seven eights the current salary of the position they last held as their current pension. So if someone was the Auditor General, Permanent Secretary or Head Master, then their pension must be seven eigths of the salary of the current Auditor General, Permanent Secretary or Head Master. These people who would have served this nation for 33 or more years are more deserving of such a pension.
If this Bill remains, I would like to see our Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds be given this pension now. I kept hearing during the various news articles and other messages following the death of former President Janet Jagan that she was the 4th and some said 5th President.
Based on my count, she was number six. Ex-presidents were, Authur Chung, Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, Cheddi Jagan, Samuel Hinds and then Janet Jagan. Forget the executive prefix. Samuel Hinds was sworn in and served as President from March 1997 to December 1997.
I would however like to see this Bill repealed. It is wrong.
Ganesh Singh

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