Dear Editor,
Ms Gail Teixeira, MP, held a press conference on July 6 and spoke on the old age pension, which she made an issue of controversy. To begin with, she agrees that approval must first be granted to an applicant for the non-contributory old age pension in Guyana which is provided for under the Poor Relief Law. This confirms that the old age pension is a gift to an applicant who satisfies the criteria for eligibility and not an entitlement for all persons reaching 65.
Secondly, Ms Teixeira would recognise that many Guyanese returned after long years of toil, cold weather and hardship to live in Guyana on the pension they have duly earned in another country. I have no problem with them returning to enjoy their duly earned pensions but they did not toil in this country nor did they withstand the hot weather or hardship of this country, hence they should not impose themselves on this country’s old age pension scheme. This country’s pension scheme caters for the people who toiled here and furthermore, by removing the ones who toiled abroad a greater possibility will be created of giving our ‘toilers’ more than $20,000.
Thirdly, Ms Teixeira recognised that the the old age pension dates back over 100 years and that it was established to help the poor and vulnerable. I therefore respectfully ask her, are those persons who are returning from their long toil in another country who receive a pension from that country poor and vulnerable? That question answers itself.
Fourthly, the PPP/C Chief Whip reminded our readers that the majority of persons who earn the old age pension are poor, in need of it, and look forward to it to help them survive. I fully agree with her on this point, however she stopped short of saying that the minority of persons who are practising ‘double dipping’ are actually the reason why the old age pension is below the minimum wage. When they are removed, then of course our poor and vulnerable hard workers who toiled feverishly for Guyana would see a greater increase in their old age pension.
Editor, it is my conclusion that Ms Teixeira failed in her attempt to mislead the people of this country. Her attempt to gain cheap political points did not work out, fundamentally because we, the people of this land are educating ourselves and keeping abreast of current affairs.
Yours faithfully,
Ganesh Mahipaul
