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Pensions and the question of affordability

Sep 20, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
Shortly after the debate on the National Communications Network (N.C.N.) about the President of Guyana’s pension package and all other benefits that go with same, I caused a letter to appear in the letter column of our two major daily newspapers, the Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News, in which I mentioned that it would be very very interesting to have N.C.N,  with the same moderator and the same panelists, our Attorney General and Minster of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall, our Minister of Labour, Mr. Nanda Gopaul and Mr. Carvil Duncan, one of our Senior Trade Unionists, debating the National Insurance Scheme and old age pension paid to our senior citizens. I would like to add to the panel our Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and our Human Services and Social Security Minister Ms. Jennifer Webster.
I am convinced that all Guyanese would like to have a public debate on the topic with the aforementioned persons participating.  I am also certain that the Alliance for Change and the main opposition alliance, APNU, would relish the opportunity of having a representative taking part.
The labourer having worked with the Government or Private Sector or being self-employed and having attained the age of sixty would get about $17,000 (seventeen thousand dollars) monthly as an NIS Pensioner
The old age pensioner having completed his 65 years receives $10,000 (ten thousand dollars) monthly.
Assuming the old age pensioner was self employed for all of his or her working life and could not have afforded to contribute to the N.I.S – for example a rice farmer who toiled untiringly for four or five, and for many even be six decades going back to the days of the bull and plough and the grass knife.  Those persons have to live on their old age pension. Our politicians, members of the business community, civil society and leaders of the church must say if what they receive is adequate or how grossly inadequate this is.
If I was in the category of that very important large group of persons, who we must recognize have made a sterling contribution to the country’s development and are still doing so.This is how I would have budgeted for each month; or like to have money to purchase or spend on:

 

  1. Transportation to go the office where the money is paid            –          $200.
  2. Transportation to church                                                                   –          $300.
  3. Transportation to market                                                                 –         $200.
  4. Transportation to the clinic (medical)

to purchase drugs not available at the public hospitals)              –       $1,500.

  1. Grocery (monthly)                                                                              –       $6,000.
  2. Vegetables – Plantain, eddoes, cassava, sweet potatoes             –       $3,000.
  3. Fruits – 1 pine, 1 pear, 1 doz. Honey fig or apple banana           –       $1,800.

1  doz. Oranges, ½ doz. Mangoes, and a six-pound

Watermelon monthly.

  1. Greens (monthly)                                                                                 –       $3,000.
  2. Meat & fish (monthly)                                                                       –       $3,000.
  3. 1 small bottle Marmite                                                                       –       $1,000.
  4. To maintain the required level of hygiene                                      –       $2,500.
  5. Cooking Gas monthly                                                                        –       $2,000.
  6. Light Bill (maximum)                                                                         –       $3,000.
  7. Telephone Bill (maximum)                                                             –       $2,500.

                                                                                                           TOTAL      –     $30,000.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ======
It may be impossible to live a more conservative life.
The question that would be asked or the argument made is if Guyana can currently afford to pay more than what is paid currently to our pensioners. The same question must be asked and the same argument advanced as it relates to the president’s pension package and for me, it is not the president pension’s package, but all others that are receiving same or similar.
Archie Cordis.
NIS Pensioner

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