Former First Lady Varshnie Singh is not entitled to a “First Lady’s pension” since the law only provides for such a pension to be paid to a widow, Permanent Secretary within the Office of the President (OP) Dr Nanda Gopaul says.
Facing burgeoning scrutiny over the pension that President Bharrat Jagdeo will earn when he demits office, Gopaul on Friday night released the pensions received by former president Arthur Chung and the previous first ladies with the exception of Singh. AFC presidential candidate Khemraj Ramjattan, in a report carried subsequently by the Kaieteur News, was quoted as saying that Singh was entitled to a First Lady’s pension. Singh and President Bharrat Jagdeo were married in 1998 according to Hindu rites before they split in 2007. In 2009, Singh revealed that the couple’s marriage had never been registered. When the couple split, Singh had expressed dissatisfaction at the settlement figure she was being offered by the President.
“Mr. Ramjattan got it all wrong….it is not for a wife of a President or First Lady…had he read the Act, he would have seen that a widow’s pension is paid only to that widow on the death of her husband,” GINA quoted Gopaul as saying yesterday. The President Hoyte Pension Act 2009 makes provision for enhanced pension to the widow of the late President from the date when the widow’s pension was first payable. It was passed after former First Lady Joyce Hoyte was experiencing difficulty acquiring her pension from the State.
According to Gopaul, the “widow’s pension is payable and it is calculated at 50 percent of the President’s pension”. He explained too that the former first ladies are entitled to a driver, medical and utility expenses and duty-free concessions. It is possible therefore, sources say, that Mrs Singh might be entitled to some of these benefits even though separated from the President.
Gopaul, in his initial statement on the matter, said that on December 3, 2004, Mrs Hoyte (the wife of former president Desmond Hoyte), received $87,143. Following the passage of President Hoyte Pensions Bill 2009 Mrs Hoyte received $347,395 for 2006. In 2007, she received $378,660; in 2008 $489,468; and in November 2010, she was paid $543,543. It is not clear if these were monthly or annual figures.
Meanwhile, Gopaul indicated Mrs. Janet Jagan received $125,867 per month in 2000 and from October 1, 2006 she received $729,529 monthly. In addition, the Office of the President said, she received a salary of $137, 938 in March 2009 as legislator, and $876,692 as ex-president.
Former President Arthur Chung received, from October 1, 2006 $729,529 per month, with the last amount being paid in June 2008 to the tune of $1,085,427. His widow, Mrs. Chung, received a widow’s pension of $542,714 up to August 2009, Gopaul indicated.
Gopaul also said they were also entitled to motor vehicles and drivers, a gardener, payment of utilities’ bills (electricity/telephone/water), payment for security at the residence or the provision of security personnel, payment of maids, payment for medical expenditure, payment of an annual vacation allowance for ex-president and spouse, and duty-free concession for motor vehicles. A source , close to the Hoytes indicated that Mr. Hoyte never received a presidential pension from the government on the grounds that he was still a member of Parliament and with a few exceptions, Hoyte nor his wife benefited from the additional benefits being mentioned by Gopaul.
Gopaul, in the GINA release, said that the opposition is seeking to create the impression that the Act was designed for President Jagdeo and not the holder of the position of President of Guyana. “The Act was made applicable to all the former persons who held the position. President Hoyte, President Arthur Chung…and President Janet Jagan,” the Permanent Secretary said.
Opposition parties, particularly the AFC have been calling for the PPP/C/government to tabulate the pension and benefits that Jagdeo will earn on demitting office. The AFC has computed a figure of $3.2 million monthly, which the government has rejected, but is yet to produce a figure to counter.
