Better seating for pensioners at post offices

Aug 14, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
The eagerly awaited 2015 National Budget was presented to the nation in the National Assembly on Monday 10th August, 2015 it catered for everyone.
Of course there are going to be some people out there especially from the opposition who will always be destructive in their criticism of every step this Government takes in moving this country forward.
Never in the history, were the old age pensioners given such an increase. The increase would simply mean that almost $8,000.
In the Stabroek News of Thursday 6th August, 2015 on Page 21, it was reported that the Minister Miss Volda Lawerence visited several Post Offices where Old Age Pensions are being paid, and was totally dissatisfied with the system of payment; the late arrival of money for the pensioners and in some instances the inadequate sum of money and the seating arrangements for our senior citizens.
Being a National Insurance Scheme Pensioner, over the past five years, I have visited several Post Offices in various regions and all the offices, the staff are always courteous and made that extra effort to expedite payments to pensioners.
But you will notice senior citizens, some of them hardly mobile and having to be aided, sitting on the steps of the Post Office, leaning on the walls and others standing some times for hours because at most of these Post Offices there are seating accommodation for only a few, and most time the money would come late, or insufficient for all of them, even with us Pensioners, some would always be less fortunate than some, and while some can wait until a later date in the month, others would be at the Post Office on the first working day of the month as soon as the doors are open, and they have earned the right to be there and that right must be acknowledged and appreciated by the authorities responsible for those persons to be paid.
About a year and a half ago having visited the Parika Post Office in Region Two. I had written in the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News about the apparent lack of concern shown towards our pensioners visiting these offices for the payments. Sad to say, the situation country wide has gotten worse.
The question is how much would it take to provide seating accommodation at the Post Offices, based on the number of Pensioners expected to be paid there on that given day? As it relates to the late and insufficient money to pay those persons, the authority must have an idea as to the amount of money needed and the time payment are to be made.
I had the opportunity to speak to a Senior Postal Official in Region 2 some time back, as regards the issues mentioned above, and suggested that the withdrawal can be made from the commercial bank the day before the payment date and lodged at the Police Stations, because in this region all the Post Offices in this region are very close to the Police Stations. His response was that Pensioners money amounting to more than twenty million dollars was lodged at the Finance Department, Police Head Quarters Eve Leary, Kingston and that money went missing. He also pointed out to other instances where they were similar occurrences at other police stations.
But with all of the above being said, it good to see the Minister visiting these Post offices and interacting with the pensioners.
With these observations being made, the Minister I am sure would be making the necessary arrangements to have this situation changed.
Archie W. Cordis
Former A.F.C. Councillor
Region NO. 2

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