Dear Editor,
This is senior citizens’ month so may I take this opportunity to wish my fellow senior citizens a happy and blessed occasion. As I mentioned in a previous letter more needs to be done by the government and society at large for senior citizens in this country. We have contributed in no uncertain way to the development of Guyana and should therefore be the recipients of the goods and services that are available. The PNCR in a press release listed several recommendations to improve the lives of senior citizens, one of which read, “Review those laws and regulations governing the pension.’ A man/woman who worked in an organization for thirty years receiving a monthly pension of twelve dollars in retirement is unacceptable. I personally cannot blame the organization, because pension schemes have to adhere to the rules, guidelines and laws governing them. It is because of this that there should be a review of the laws and regulations.
When the pension plan (superannuation) scheme was formulated several years ago the value of the Guyana dollar was good and its purchasing power was excellent. However, even though the dollar was devalued several times over the years nothing was done to remedy the negative impact the devaluation would have had on the pension plan and it beneficiaries.
In the October 4 editorial of the Stabroek News there were several paragraphs highlighting the problems faced by senior citizens (pensioners) with regard to NIS pensions. It is true that the record-keeping at the NIS has serious problems and sometimes documents cannot be found to substantiate the number of contributions made. Just before I attained the age of 60 years I applied to the NIS for my contribution record which I received, only to find that contributions for nine years were missing. I went to my employer who gave me a letter confirming that I was in their employ during those years and contributions were made on my behalf. When I reached age 60 and was given a document outlining the quantum of my pension and how it was calculated, believe it or not five years of those nine missing years were still missing from the calculation. As required under the laws of NIS, I appealed, and after one year I am still awaiting the results of the appeal. NIS needs to do better than that. However in spite of all those disappointments I am still enjoying my golden years. Thank God for the health and strength he gave to me.
Yours faithfully,
Collin Gill
