Increase pension to cushion cost of living impact on elders

Aug 05, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – A few days ago I met a pensioner who was coming out of a supermarket and she greeted me and asked me what I was doing outside the supermarket and I told her that I was waiting for my wife who was shopping inside. Editor, what she proceeded to tell me caused my heart to break and left such a sick feeling within me that I decided to highlight the plight of pensioners in this country.

She told me her husband died a few years ago and she is receiving $17,500 survivors pension from the NIS and an old age pension of $28,000 from the government which gives her a grand total of $45,500 per month. She pays $10,000 per month for rent, an average of between $20,000 to $25,000 per month in groceries and between $15,000 to $20,000 per month in the market buying the basic necessities like fish and vegetables. She cannot afford fruits and meat. Then she have to pay bills along with another amenity. By now Editor, I guess you get the drift; there is no way this pensioner can survive on the money she is receiving every month and so as the saying goes” she has to cut her belly to survive”, especially since the cost of living has skyrocketed. I know the high cost of living is affecting all Guyanese, but it is decimating the most vulnerable groups like the pensioners

I would therefore like to appeal to this government to do something for the pensioners of this country who have given their blood, sweat and tears to develop this country and make it what it is today so that this generation, including the President, vice president and the entire cabinet, can enjoy the bounties of this country today. And let me make this clear upfront, I do not believe in the one-off cash grant that this government is doling out to various sectors in this country, because after the money is finish, what next? We are back to square one. With regards to the pensioners, I would like to recommend that this government increase the NIS pension by 50 percent to all pensioners and the Old Age pension to $40,000 per month with immediate effect to help cushion the devastating impact of the high cost of living on our pensioners.

After all, they do not have long more to live and the most this government can do is to make their last few years a happy one for them. I know infrastructure development is important for this country, but you cannot use all the oil wealth on infrastructure alone and neglect your people who are reeling from the high cost of living and the people in government, businessmen and investors are enjoying the good life. Please Mr. President, listen to the cry of the people and do something for the pensioners of this country. Thank you.

Yours Faithfully,
Imtiaz Baccus

Latest News

Increase pension to cushion cost of living impact on elders

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 24th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Hayley Matthews and Sherfane Rutherford named in ICC ODI Teams of the...

Future of West Indies Cricket To Take Centre...

Bounty/Antonio’s Grill One Day Season Opener...

Former Upper Demerara Football Administrator and...

Statistician Charwayne Walker expresses...

BCB U15 LCSS ALUMNI Association inter zone U15...

Features/Columnists

Development requires more than oil revenues

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Twilight of the generals

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Increase pension to cushion cost of living impact on elders

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 24th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]