Eighty per cent of pensioners around the country have already uplifted their pension booklets and collected payment.

The distribution process, which began last month, is continuing and is due for completion in another three weeks.

Speaking to Stabroek News on Thursday, Minister within the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Bibi Shadick disclosed that steady progress has been made with regard to the distribution and payment of old age pensions and with the addition of a few volunteers the process would be completed shortly.

Shadick had issued a statement to the media outlining her ministry's plans for this year and in it she reiterated that a new system was being put in place for paying old age pensions, and it would reduce fraud and see the setting up a database. When the system was first introduced on January 14, 2002 it was mired in confusion, many days the aged stood in long lines and scorching sun waiting for their booklets and some of them who visited the centres early in the morning were forced to leave without their books.

Pensioners had also complained about the social workers' attitude and some of the officials also made complaints that the minister had not included them in the initial planning and introduction of the new system. Shadick had refuted their claims stating that she had invited them to meetings but many of them who had hang ups about the system never showed up.

Shadick insisted on Thursday that her ministry was committed to preserving its image and as such the new system would continue to be in operation despite the many criticisms. She projected that the database would be on stream by June, but would only come into operation after the entire process was completed. Shadick said she was looking for overseas assistance to set up the database. But that meant that she would have to be patient and wait a little longer than usual.

Speaking about the distribution of booklets, the minister said that apart from Region Eight all of the other regions had been covered and officers were continuously working. She said that in Region Eight the distribution process would commence shortly after the Mashramani celebrations and officers would distribute the booklets and make payments at the same time. She noted that the area did not have many pensioners, therefore it would not take long. She made mention of Region Four, which she said continued to be the trouble area. Shadick noted that officers had commenced home visits to the shut-ins and more centres were set up to improve the situation.

She disclosed that some pensioners, who had uplifted their new booklets had already misplaced them. She said one of the things her ministry was hoping to achieve was to reduce the many instances of pensioners who had more than one booklet and her officers had been advised to be more careful with replacing booklets for those who claimed that they had lost theirs.

Shadick said that in Berbice the process was nearing completion with those who had not visited the centres during the crisis period now turning up.

Regions One, Seven, Two, Three, Five and Nine have also reported satisfactory results.

Checking at post offices on Thursday, Stabroek News observed a few pensioners waiting in orderly lines for their money. The seniors seemed satisfied.

To be eligible for old age pension in Guyana, one must attain the age of 65, make an application at the ministry and be interviewed. If the requirements are satisfied, the pensioner is issued with a booklet of 12 vouchers and can redeem one each month for $1,728.