When it comes to the poor and needy, the PPP Govt. never has money

May 01, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter on behalf of the thousands of NIS pensioners who have not received any increase in their pension this year simply because their pension is above the new minimum wage of $43,000 per month which was announced in this year budget.

Editor, this government would never learn, stumbling from one crisis to the next, because of poor planning and decision-making. It seems when it comes to the poor and needy of this country, this government cannot find money to make life easier for them, but can find billions for the elite of this country.

How can you justify someone who is getting $44,000 per month in pension not receiving any increase? As Swatan and Ursilla told me, Mr. Bacchus, it is not fair, if this trend continues, the people who are getting the minimum will surpass us although we worked hard and give long years of service and contributed more to the NIS than them. People who are above the minimum are crying discrimination and are lamenting how this government can give some pensioners an increase and not all pensioners. The right thing they could have done was to give the pensioners who are above the minimum, a 22% increase which is the percentage between the old and new minimum so that all pensioners will receive the same increase.

I am wondering if the President, Vice President and Minister of Finance were in our shoe what they would have done? I am sure they would have shouted at the top of their voices, DISCRIMINATION!!! I started this letter by mentioning poor planning and decision making. Please gentlemen, when the three of you were formulating the budget, how could you not see that it is a poor decision to give some pensioners an increase and not all pensioners. How could you not see that this is discrimination? Let me tell you something, this has nothing to do with politics, because PPP supporters are balling the most. So please gentlemen, do the right thing and give an increase to the NIS pensioners who are above the minimum. Thousands of pensioners are waiting.

Yours faithfully,

Imtiaz Bacchus

budget, decision, Imtiaz Bacchus, money, pensioners

Latest News