Pensioners laud ministry on timely sharing of coupons
-call for more orderly system
Stabroek News
December 5, 2006
Pensioners have lauded efforts by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to ensure that pension books are distributed in a timely manner ahead of the new year.
However, the consensus is that order and structure must be added to the process to prevent unnecessary confusion.
Yesterday this newspaper was on hand to witness the distribution of the books and heard comments by pensioners at the Camp Street mandir.
One pensioner, who preferred to remain anonymous, said she believed that the new arrangement is convenient and had made things easier for her. "Well, I am happy that I will be able to get my pension book earlier this time around because sometimes when we go to the post office it takes a long time. I like how they did it this year and for a new and pretty young minister I believe Minister Priya Manickchand has started out on the right path," the woman said.
Evlyn Strickland, another pensioner of Charlestown, was also impressed by the ministry's new plan to get pension books out to pensioners. However she told Stabroek News that she was among the first set of persons to be present at the mandir yesterday but was bypassed and a number of other persons were attended to before her and she was still waiting to be looked after. "I sat here and didn't worry to rush to the table because I thought that after they came so late they would have at least handed out numbers to people so they would treat the thing on a first-come, first-serve basis," she said.
"I like the idea and I am glad that the minister made this decision but I was disappointed that they turned up late and still a lot of people who came early with me still had to wait a long time before being served," she added.
Another pensioner who told Stabroek News that she was receiving a pension book for the first time said she too anticipated a better and more orderly system. "No one ain't even come to say anything to us. We heard where we had to come over the radio and as for me I tried to come early because we were told that distribution will start as early as 9, but the officer came a bit late, but eventually I got my book and I am happy about this," she said.
Muriel Lowe, a 76-year-old pensioner shared similar sentiments and re-emphasized the point that more orderly arrangements be put in place.
She said the plan was good but her only concern was that there was no obvious security system in place at the centre and special arrangements should be put in place for the physically challenged and elderly. "Many of us come here and we take medication that requires that we rest and so when we come here we can't sit up for a long time and stand up like the stronger ones," she observed.
"They should have an extra desk dealing specially with those of us who can barely walk so when we come in we could get the process over with quickly and then we could go home. For instance where I am concerned I had to take my medication and now I am very drowsy and if I don't get through shortly I will be forced to go home because I can't stay on my feet for too long," she said.
Pensioners, however, were generally pleased with the move by the ministry. "The whole way in which they publicized everything and the advertisements on the radio were well done and they were very innovative and informative and it's a good thing which the ministry should continue," one pensioner said.
The pensioners said they hoped that their recommendations would be taken into consideration for the next time around.
Minister Manickchand, in an interview shortly after her accession to office, had told Stabroek News that, "The pension issue is an issue that arises every year, it is an issue that must not arise again . . . in terms of the distribution of books."
At that time she had announced her intention to share the books out this month so that come January 1 next year pensioners would already have had their books and would just need to collect their pensions.
"We want our old people to live in dignity, there is only so much the country can afford to pay in terms of financial payment . . . but it must be done in a timely manner," the minister had said.
During her first interview with this newspaper Manickchand had also made it clear that the contract with the Guyana Post Office Corporation to pay pensioners could be terminated if delays continue. "This is my view, and it may sound harsh. If you can't get it done, then somebody else is going to get it done," she had insisted.
The Post Office benefits from the transaction as it obtains $40 for every voucher it pays, so persons cannot be facing this problem, Minister Manickchand told Stabroek News when asked about the chaos pensioners face when they have to receive their monies. According to the minister, she has been advised that whenever there are problems of pensioners not receiving their monies at the various post offices it is not because the ministry had not paid over the money to the GPOC but the fault was with the corporation.
Distribution of pension books will continue throughout the week at advertised locations. (Heppilena Feguson)