Latest update May 22nd, 2026 12:38 AM
Old Age Pensioners are being ripped off by government
DEAR EDITOR,
I read with interest a letter by the AFC Regional Chairman of Region 5, in which he called for the Old Age Pensioners to be paid monies purportedly being paid to GPL and GWI as subsidies on their behalf. That decision of Cabinet is discriminatory at best and is a scheme at bailing out GPL while at the same time ripping off thousands of senior citizens.
The pensioners on the coast are benefiting, albeit with great difficulties, from these subsidies. Their hinterland counterparts are however being sidelined, discriminated against, and ripped off. I am quite positive that this scheme was not hatched by accident but was clearly designed with the aims I have mentioned; while at the same time offering GPL in particular, a hefty amount of cash illegally. That is theft, misappropriation and dishonesty all in one.
Let me explain. GPL is the sole provider of electricity on the coast. In the hinterland regions there are several quasi entities established by the PM to supply this essential commodity. As I understand it, only GPL was envisaged as receiving the subsidy. The result is that LMPCI in Lethem, LPC of Linden, and MPC of Mahdia do not receive this subsidy. Therefore pensioners are made to pay for electricity while $30,000 per month is going to GPL in their names. Similarly, there are endless communities in the hinterland that are not in receipt of any electricity. Monies are going to GPL and GWI in the names of the hundreds of pensioners from those areas.
If this is not thievery then I do not know what else it can be. The call made by the AFC Region 5 Chairman therefore, is a reasonable one and should be implemented forthwith. I will go a stage further and call on both Mr Granger and Mr. Ramjattan to use their majority in parliament to ensure that the hinterland residents receive their $30,000 in their monthly cheque, and this should be retroactive to the beginning of the arrangement.
Let us see if the government really has the interest of the hinterland peoples at heart, or whether they will characteristically continue to weave a web of deceit to hoodwink us.
Carl Parker
Sr. Regional Councillor,
Region 9
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