Dear Editor,
Can the Ministry of Social Protection kindly advise the Old Age Pensioners both Old Age and National Insurance Scheme (NIS), also those persons who receive Public Assistance as to what time on the day when their pension is due they can report to the Post Office and other areas that same is payable?
It can be frustrating to have us waiting at the Post Office as early as 07:00 hrs on pension days and not to be paid on most occasions until after 11:00 hrs. Then at 12:00 hrs the Post Master or Pay Clerk goes for lunch and resumes payment at 13:00 hrs.
Remember as we get older we try to beat the weather by travelling in the cool of it. There are no reasons for me to believe that pensions cannot be made available at 09:00 hrs at the Post Offices at the extreme of the Essequibo Coast, that is Charity and Aurora Post Offices. Pension to us must not be seen as a handout or gift, we have earned the right to receive same.
I had written about the inadequate seating accommodation at these offices, particularly on pension days, but it is good that I can say that has been addressed. I am hoping that these long hours of waiting will be significantly reduced.
Yours faithfully,
Archie W. Cordis
Pensioner
