(Trinidad Guardian) Legislation presented in Parliament on Friday will facilitate pension increases for former Presidents Sir Ellis Clarke and ANR Robinson and will also benefit the surviving spouse of the late President Noor Hassanali, according to Public Administration Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh.
Swaratsingh piloted a bill in the Lower House on Friday to this effect. The bill seeks to ensure that pensions payable to holders of the Office of President are reviewed every six years from the date the holder of the office ceased to be president. However it does not pertain to office holders if they ceased to hold office before April 2008. Swaratsingh said the legislation would also treat with the issue of surviving spouses. He lauded deceased President Hassanali, T&T’s second President. He said Hassanali served dutifully and with marked distinction from 1987 to 1997.
Swaratsingh said, “He was described as one of the most neutral, reserved and dignified figures in the history of T&T politics. When he was inaugurated in 1987, he was described as a person with impeccable credentials and a reputation for honesty and humility of the highest order.” He said, “It goes without saying that the honour conferred on the presidents who have served, extended to their spouses and should be reflected in the pensions that are concomitant to that office.” He said the legislation would ensure that surviving spouses of presidents were not “subjected to a national disservice.”
Swaratsingh noted for instance that the pension received by Sir Ellis Clarke is a little less than $6,000. He said there was an unfortunate disparity with the remuneration of sitting Presidents. “It is time to close the gap,” he added.
However UNC MP Roodal Moonilal waded into the Government on the case of Hassanali in particular. He noted that Hassanali had after his retirement, written the Government seeking help on removal of VAT and duties on a car and had not been assisted. “To date not one thing has been done to honour Noor Mohammed Hassanali even though we had suggested naming the Hall of Justice after him,” Moonilal said.
