“Even though, the growing ageing population and the concomitant changes this will bring are viewed as a major socio-economic challenge for Guyana, other competing development priorities have overtaken the national agenda. Besides political will, careful planning led by the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, with other related government ministries, non-governmental sectors and individuals is required to ensure that economic security, health and caring, and environmental systems remain sustainable into the future.” (Guyana’s National Report on Aging:” 2012)
As we shall see, outside of perhaps the introduction of the national water subsidies, there has been no substantial government addition to the services available to the elderly over the last decade. No one expects the government of Guyana to provide either the quantity or quality of services which exist in a developed country, yet what the Report outlined as available to our elderly population can only be described as paltry.
First, it points to the annual increases in the old age pensions as one positive intervention. Recently after some significant pressure from the opposition, the government conceded to increase the old age pensions to $10,000 but only the most careless would want to suggest that this sum is sufficient to maintain anyone and the
