Security features in Old Age Pension Books to be updated

Security features in Old Age Pension Books to be updated
Guyana Chronicle
November 15, 2002

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Recipients of Old Age Pension have been assured that despite the ongoing investigations into one of the biggest scams in the distribution of Old Age Pension coupons, they will still receive their money regularly.

So said Minister within the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Bibi Shadick on the weekly programme, "Answers", presented by the Government Information Agency (GINA) and aired on GTV 11.

Ms Shadick said the printing of new coupon books with additional security features is one way of tackling the problem of misappropriation of funds in the system.

Over 20 employees of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) have already been interdicted, together with three officials from the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security since the investigations have started.

Although the Minister could not determine the exact amount of money involved in the scam, a search of a former Post Master's home in Berbice uncovered about 31 books and a quantity of coupons, which will be used by investigators in their probe.

Shadick was also unable to give details of the security features in the new books for obvious reasons, but guaranteed that the features will be difficult to duplicate.

Responding to a question about the database project within the Ministry, the Minister, who expressed disappointment at the delay, stressed that its completion will signify the reduction of the problems being encountered within the Ministry.

The distribution of the Old Age Pension books, which began sometime in January this year, is just one part of the Ministry's efforts to improve the levels of services being offered to the public. (Government Information Agency -GINA)