From December 8 to December 20 BIPP members are being invited to visit any of three locations where they would be asked to complete a questionnaire. Members will be requested in the survey to indicate whether they want all their money in a lump sum or whether it should be spread over a period.

Notices in the Sunday Stabroek said that members could either visit the offices of the Guyana Mines, Metal and General Workers Union (GMM&GWU), 56 Wismar Street, Mackenzie, Linden, the Bermine Recreational Centre, Esplanade and Ferry Streets, New Amsterdam or the former GAIBANK Building, Parade and Barrack Streets, Kingston.

Staff at the centres are equipped with complete lists of all eligible BIPP members.

The winding up of the BIPP has been pending following widespread redundancies in the bauxite industry and consequential managerial contracts being awarded to private companies to run the operations.

An information leaflet said BIPP no longer had contributing members, thus it had to be wound up or closed.

Persons currently receiving pensions will continue to receive this benefit as per normal due to special arrangements being put in place.

Their dependants will also receive benefits if they die during the winding up process with the benefit being subject to a minimum of at least $70,000.

According to the information leaflet, although actuarial valuations of the plan have shown that it does not have enough to meet all the benefits promised, the government is committed to contributing additional sums to meet this shortfall.

Members will however not be able to decide how their benefits are provided since trustees have been appointed to work out a plan to ensure that they get the best available terms.

The choice is a highly technical one, but the survey would allow the trustees to be guided on the winding up exercise although its results will not be binding.

It is expected that once the pension fund is wound up a company will ensure persons receive a fixed sum at regular intervals payable for life.

At the Kingston location on the second full day of the survey only a single pensioner had attended. Members residing overseas will have questionnaires mailed to them.