The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security has warned that the encashment of old age pension coupons from old booklets is an offence and punishable by law.

According to a release issued through the Government Information Agency (GINA), relatives and friends of deceased old age pensioners must surrender their old coupon booklets to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the release said that 90% of all new booklets had been distributed. And Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), another release said, 98% had been distributed.

According to Regional Executive Officer Deolall Rooplall, the region received approximately 650 pension books from the ministry.

There are 52 villages in Region Nine and the social worker there, Harrypaul, visited the communities and distributed the books to the residents, the release said.

GINA noted that an investigation was carried out to ascertain the position of the remaining two per cent and it was found that many persons had migrated to Brazil, while some had died and others were duplications.

Rooplall said that the region was currently looking at 25 additional applicants who have satisfied the requirements to receive their pension books. The new pension books were introduced as a result of several problems with the previous system of pension book distribution.

The distribution of new pension books began on January 14 and is expected to conclude some time this month. The ministry aims to improve the service being offered to pensioners and persons entitled to public assistance.

GINA stated that the distribution of the new books followed reports of discrepancies in the system where many pensioners were not receiving their monies and that triggered investigations, which are in progress.

However, the ministry is working on plans to create a database, which will assist in erasing the many problems which hamper the delivery of payments and pension books.