Pension book distribution suffers some hiccups
By Nigel Williams
Stabroek News
January 14, 2003
Pensioners across the country began receiving their new pension booklets for 2003 yesterday but not without bureaucratic problems which resulted in some leaving distribution centres empty handed.
No one at the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security was there yesterday to comment on the delays. Last year Minister of Human Service, Bibi Shadick had introduced a new system for paying pensions which was partly aimed at reducing the fraud which had plagued the old system.
A check yesterday at some the centres revealed that many pensioners were still waiting for their books in the afternoon. Distribution was carried out at the Anna Regina Social Security Office in Essequibo, Queenstown Village Office, Bartica Social Security Office, Fort Wellington Social Security Office, the Linden Regional Administrative Office, the Reliance Post Office, Majeed Variety Shop, Middleton Street, Campbellville, the Wakenaam Magistrate's Court, Soesdyke, the Better Hope Community Centre, the Night Shelter, the Vreed-en-Hoop social security office, the La Bonne Intention Community Centre, the Mahaicony sub-regional office and the Victoria Community Centre.
Stabroek News understands that distribution in Region Four was seriously affected since many of the pensioners found that their names were not on the issue sheet. As a result several persons returned to their homes, while some remained at the centres complaining about the situation.
Reports reaching this newspaper state that some social workers were forced to use supplementary sheets to accommodate some of the pensioners whose names were not found on the issue sheet. According to information, this problem was a feature at most of the centres resulting in some of them closing earlier than the scheduled time.
Books were to be distributed between the hours of 9 am-4.30 pm, but when this newspaper visited one centre on the East Coast and another in Georgetown at around 1:30 pm the social workers had already gone home. Some very impatient pensioners were overheard quarrelling among themselves yesterday at Better Hope lamenting the fact that they had turned up early for their books and were not able to collect them. One man Rasheed Khali said,"I was here since this morning, first they tell me that mi name ain't deh on the list, then they tell mi to hold on a little. Me na able with this thing."
The old man complained that he had not eaten for the entire day and was still waiting at about 3.30 pm when this reporter left the centre. Others had the same story to tell, but from all indications the social workers were working to remedy the situation.
Reports out of LBI indicate that many persons did not turn up since they had not been told about the distribution. One resident observed that pensioners were only given one day to find out where they should go. According to the man, it was only on Sunday that the Ministry published the distribution schedule in the newspapers and had it not been for friends and other family members no one might have gone to the centre.
Last year when the ministry first introduced the new system there were similar problems.
At the Victoria Community Centre, the situation was calm. Only a handful of pensioners turned up and it was suspected many did not know about the exercise. In the city, at Majeed Variety Shop in Campbellville, the social workers had a very disciplined group of pensioners to deal with. The Night Shelter located behind the La Penitence Police Station was by far the most problematic centre. Scores of pensioners turned up there and scores went away without their books.
Up to late afternoon more than 60 pensioners were still sitting under a benab awaiting their turn. When Stabroek News visited at about 3 pm three social workers were seen attending to them. One pensioner told this newspaper that he went without food for the day but was determined to wait for his booklet. Distribution at that centre will resume on January 22.
