Latest update March 20th, 2025 5:10 AM
Dec 18, 2012 News
“We were right in saying to Mr (David) Granger ‘no we cannot agree to this in the budget talks’,” said People’s Progressive Party Civic, Chief Whip, Ms Gail Teixeira as she alluded to calls from the parliamentary opposition to increase the retirement age to 65.
Teixeira’s disclosure was forthcoming as she responded to questions from the media during the post Cabinet press briefing at Office of the President on Friday.
According to her, in the budget talks of April this year, the opposition through the person of Granger, called for the age retirement to be increased, a notion to which the ruling party did not subscribe.
She pointed to the fact that the parliamentary record can show that the leader of the parliamentary opposition was of the opinion that “we could just announce that the age of retirement had moved from 55 to 65. We disagreed vehemently and we said that a matter like this had major repercussions and consequences.
“The matter would have to be taken to a level of consultation with the unions and public service where the ordinary people can decide whether they want to work to 65 before they retire.”
Teixeira speculated on Friday that many people look forward in the public service to retiring and doing a range of other things in their lives with some even opting to stay on and work in the public sector.
She pointed to last week’s National Insurance Scheme’s (NIS) consultation which saw stakeholders rejecting a recommendation to increase the retirement age. They said the five-year gap that was suggested for the retirement age may be difficult for low income earners, while pointing out that most public servants retire at 60.
Also rejected were recommendations relating to Old Age pension and increased contribution rates which attracted intense discussions. The recommendations raised, however, have not been put in place, but according to NIS General Manager Terry Thomas, great scrutiny would be given to the pointers.
The NIS debate was based on the review of its actuarial review which saw Dominican, Derek Osborne, offering 28 recommendations. Though not totally connected with the budget debates, Teixeira insisted that the recent consultation is in fact “an interesting indicator to me that we were right of what we said in April that this is an issue that would require a lot of discussions, a lot of consultations before…so the NIS consultations right now give us a window into the public’s opinion.”
“Having seen what has been reported in the press…I am rather titillated in a sense that here was the Government in April saying that this is an issue that needs discussion …and now you are getting a response from the NIS (consultation) that this is still a controversial issue…this still a controversial issue and this is absolutely right,” Teixeira said.
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