Quirks in the new system for paying old age pensioners saw hundreds, some of them disabled, standing in long lines at centres to uplift their pension books and many being sent away without them.

The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security recently announced the implementation of the new system as a way to reduce fraud and Minister within the ministry, Bibi Shadick had said the system would also enable the establishment of a new data base for the corresponding information and would accommodate direct payments at centres countrywide and the printing of fresh coupons.

Yesterday, Stabroek News toured the centres on the East Coast and East Bank in Georgetown. From as early as 5 am, some of the pensioners were assembled with their identification cards and other relevant documents and patiently waited until late afternoon to uplift their books. Many of these elderly people had nothing to eat all day and were feeling the effects of this hardship. The social workers -- one per centre -- also went without lunch, with the exception of one at Agricola, who closed at noon and later resumed. While some pensioners were fortunate to get their books, hundreds were forced to return to their homes without even having the opportunity to speak to the social worker because of the crowd.

"This is pure nonsense and a waste of time," one old man complained. He said that he went to the centre in Festival City from as early as 6 am. When this newspaper spoke with him at 4 pm he had not yet been attended to.

According to him the crowd kept building rapidly and with the presence of only one social worker, the situation quickly became chaotic. "There is no proper communication system, one doesn't know whether he should remain or leave or come at another date because nobody is saying anything to you," he pointed out.

The man, who is a resident of South Ruimveldt and identified himself as Mr Singh, told this newspaper that the pensioners were not properly apprised as to which station they should go and many of them turned up at the wrong place and had to return home. "It is too much for these old people. I myself being a old man am not able with the fatigue and I think the government should review the system."

According to him, the old system whereby pensioners were paid through the post office was more satisfying since one could have uplifted his/her book at a convenient time.

At Nigel's Supermarket where another centre was located, the pensioners also gathered early in the morning in their numbers and some of them went away because of the large crowd. According to one man, initially only one social worker was present at Nigel's but later in the afternoon two others joined her.

Matthew Wong, another pensioner, told Stabroek News that the books should have been written up before, since the ministry had a record of all the pensioners. He explained that the old system at the post office was faster and the staff at the post office usually tried to help pensioners.

"I don't know what's wrong with the government. This money is too small to put people through all this stress. It isn't worth the while, it doesn't pay. Is better if me stay home and plant me garden rather than come here and wait over five hours for this little pittance [$1,728 per month]. It is nonsense!" Wong said.

At another of the centres the scene was unbearable, according to one of the social workers. The woman told Stabroek News that hundreds of old women and men who lived far distances from the centre were forced to brave the scorching sun to uplift their books.

She said that the new system was not the idea of any social worker and they had no opportunity to make any input with regard to the new system. She said that before now if a pensioner had lost or misplaced a book, it would be replaced in a week's time. Under the new system that pensioner has to wait three months. "It is plain, bureaucracy and social work cannot work together. Social work says I must help my clients at whatever cost, whereas in a bureaucracy one has to tow the line and this cannot work," the woman explained.

She mentioned shut-ins, noting that in the past an authorisation was accepted. Now, she said, shut-ins would be paid at their homes, which meant they would receive pensions later than the others would and given the present chaos it was not likely that they would receive their books in the near future.

"This was certainly not a well-thought-out system and the drawbacks look ominous. But what can we do? It is already in place and we will have to make do," the officer added.

Meanwhile, at Better Hope Community Centre, East Coast Demerara, where over 500 pensioners gathered, only 50 books were issued. One of the pensioners told this newspaper that she was already fed up of the new system.

"I find the new system very hard. My husband is dead and my children who I am with have their families and I cannot burden them, so I look forward for the little pension, but this long line and crowd me na able with," she complained.

On the other hand, at Ananndale most of the pensioners were able to uplift their books. However, the common cry was still that the old system was better.

When Stabroek News visited the centre at Agricola, East Bank Demerara only two pensioners were seen. But the social worker explained that many of them left when he departed on his lunch break. According to him, there was a very large crowd early in the morning. He said he suspended operations at noon to have lunch and when he resumed all but two of the pensioners had gone away.

Yesterday, the man's box was seen with a large number of pension books as were the boxes at Better Hope, Festival City and Nigel's Supermarket. According to a source though many people turned up for their books only a very small percentage was issued.