Chaos continued yesterday in the new system for paying old age pensioners but Minister within the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Bibi Shadick says steps will be taken to remedy the situation.

In a telephone interview with this newspaper, the minister said that she had spoken to the Chief Social Worker and the Director of Social Services and they had decided on a number of measures to enhance the process and reduce the many complaints the ministry has been receiving.

Shadick pointed out that because the pensioners were accustomed to the old system, the new one seemed complicated and awkward to them.

"They are very apprehensive and think that as long as they visit the centre they must uplift their books," Shadick said.

She urged that pensioners not remain at the centres for long hours if they were not being attended to because the period for the distribution of the books would be extended to cater for the glitches in the new system. She also posited that though the system seemed unfavourable to many, if put to work it would bear much fruit.

She appealed to all pensioners to remain calm and show understanding, noting that the books were available and even if it took someone one year to uplift a book he/she would have it in the end. "Be calm and adhere to the rules of the centre and you will be attended to," the minister advised.

She also confirmed that payments of old age pensions would be delayed this month but assured that all efforts were being made by the ministry's accounts section to ensure payments were made by the end of the month.

Stabroek News toured more of the distribution centres on the East Coast, West Coast and around Georgetown yesterday and found the situation no different from that on Tuesday. At Annandale, East Coast Demerara, which was by far the best operating centre on Tuesday, there was near pandemonium. The social worker was seen sipping a drink, apparently trying to regain her cool after her desk was stormed by dozens of pensioners.

The officer complained that some of the pensioners, though they arrived late at the centre, demanded attention before those who had been there earlier and disrupted the numbering system which she had put in place. She said she was willing to work, but the pensioners were very impatient and uncooperative.

Speaking with Stabroek News one of the pensioners of that district said: "The system is bad. I was told that the books will be given out but the money will come next month."

The man who identified himself as Michael Robinson told this newspaper that he visited the centre as early as 9 am and others went after him and were dealt with and sent away. "I am not complaining too much, but if they are going to change a system let the new one be more effective and smooth," the man said.

At Nabaclis, ECD, there was some amount of order, but the pensioners complained that the old system was far easier and more satisfying.

In an invited comment, Senior Social Worker, Orville Stuart, told this newspaper that he was in favour of the new system since it would enable his name to be kept free from slander and allegations.

"The job is tedious but there have been several complaints of fraud and corruption in the old system and since this new system is geared to reduce such I am fully with it," Stuart noted.

He also made mention of inadequate staff. "Right now we are short of staff, but we have since encouraged volunteers to assist in the process. We can't do it all by ourselves and as such, regional staff and community members will be encouraged to volunteer their services towards this cause," he said.

Across at Industry, still on the ECD, a large number of pensioners were turned away. Yesterday a few elderly women were seen on the road discussing their ordeal, others dismissed the suggestion of returning to the centre at a later date.

"I am a old woman and me sick and if them can harass me so much me na go come back no mo time," one woman said.

On the West Coast at Windsor Forest one social worker was seen working an area which covered more than four villages. He informed this newspaper that despite the many challenges that came with the job he had been able to distribute more than 100 books up to 1:30 yesterday when his centre was visited.

The man said that he commenced his work as early as 7 am yesterday and because he had a job to do and a responsibility to the people, he worked beyond the allotted period to help many of the pensioners who turned up at his centre.

He also pointed out that despite several pleas to residents not to take the shut-ins, many had not heeded the call and continued to take their ailing grandparents and sometimes parents to the centre. "We will visit the shut-ins at a later date and they will be issued with their books," he stressed.

However, at some of the centres on the East Coast the officers there told the pensioners that they would have to visit the centre to uplift their books and afterwards an authorisation will be accepted.

In Georgetown three centres were in operation yesterday, one at Henry Street, Werk-en-Rust which was sparsely attended; another at Hadfield Street where good order was maintained and the third at Camptown Building in Campbellville which was so mired in confusion that even the minister alluded to it in the interview, saying she had received several complaints about the behaviour of the officer in charge there.

Relating his experience at Camptown to Stabroek News, Wilfred Eleazar said that he arrived at the centre at around 9 am and waited until 2 pm at which time the door was closed by the social worker who told the pensioners that she was only dealing with 50 persons.

He explained that the books could be distributed in alphabetical order which would minimise the problems the officers were encountering countrywide. He said that the officer had also complained of pain in her shoulder and as such she suspended operations several times.

"She doesn't know how to deal with people and should not continue to work in this area because the area is very big and we need someone who understands the job and is willing to assist the old men and women," Eleazar complained.

Meanwhile, the PNC REFORM, in a press release said that the utter chaos in the new system was predictable. The party said for some time now it had been receiving reports, which suggested that the administration of the ministry was in disarray.

The professional staff of the ministry, who should be involved in the decision making with respect to all matters which come within the ambit of the ministry's responsibilities felt completely alienated, the party said. Trained and experience cadres were being sidelined, transferred and in some cases dismissed to make way for untrained and inexperienced persons whose services were retained on contract, at salaries higher than those sidelined or dismissed, the release added.

The party called on the minister responsible for the ministry to intervene and call a halt to the distressing state of affairs which has engulfed the new system.