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Why let the calendar determine when we should retire?

Jun 26, 2014 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
The recent letter titled: “Raising the Retirement Age” written by my long-time friend and highly respected professional colleague in Human Resource Management, Mr E.B. John, brought to the fore, once more, the issue of an appropriate retirement age for Guyanese, who are variously required to retire at 55 or 60 or 65 years of age.
Given the paucity of skills, experiences and competencies required for the development of Guyana, I am, as I have always been, amazed at our rigid adherence to the practice of allowing the calendar (i.e. a pre-determined specified date) to decide when we should retire, as opposed to basing the retirement decision on more relevant factors like health, ability, willingness and performance appraisal etc of the Staff member and the continuing need for his/her competency.
Generally speaking, there are certain common characteristics among various age groups; similarly, there are significant individual differences within each age group. Simply put, there are some 65+ years old persons who are fitter, more efficient/productive/effective than their 55+years old counterparts; similar comparisons can be made among septuagenarians and octogenarians.
In recognition of these discernable differentials and for good commonsensical, pragmatic, needs-based considerations, more advanced companies/countries with better-endowed Human Resources have already opted for open-ended retirement age to take advantage of optional retirement after age 60 years.
I believe Guyana will benefit significantly from a more need- and performance-based approach to retention and retirement of competent staff. (I do not wish to personalize the debate, but in all humility, I am proud of the fact that at 77 years old, I feel and know from several unsolicited feedback that I am as productive and effective as I was decades ago!).
Nowrang Persaud

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