The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MoHSSS) yesterday began the distribution of 2022 pension booklets and a one-off $25,000 COVID cash grant to pensioners who showed up in the hundreds at various sites, some of which appeared to be overwhelmed.
Some pensioners had lined up from as early as 3 am to await the distribution, which began yesterday in regions One, Four, Seven and Nine.
Some of the pensioners who were at the East La Penitence Post Office, which is one of the distribution sites, told this newspaper that they had been gathered since the wee hours of the morning as they knew there would be a crowd. The crowds grew continuously throughout the day and ministry officers were forced to close the gate at different sites to service only the persons who had been waiting.
At the post office, some of the waiting pensioners complained that the officers started the process later than 8 am. The distribution was scheduled for 8 am to 4.30 pm. When asked the reason for the delay, one of the officers said it was due to them needing to make accommodations, such as seating areas, for the elderly persons. But those who were complaining also said that there weren’t enough seats for everybody.
At the time of its visit, this newspaper observed over 60 persons seated while many others remained standing. Another complaint was that the officers were giving preferential treatment to some. One of the pensioners said that he had been standing all morning and that he saw persons who arrived after him collect their book and voucher and then left while he still remained. However, the officers said that they collected old pension books and were calling the names in the order the books were gathered to make the distribution.
On Friday last, the MoHSSS announced that thousands of pensioners as well as public assistance recipients, and persons living with disabilities are expected to benefit from the rollout of the cash grant. The grant will be valid until November 30 and recipients have been advised to cash them before then. The minister had hoped for it to be seamless and hassle-free for the recipients. “I want to make this distribution safe, seamless and hassle-free for recipients and we are trying to avoid people making several trips to uplift these vouchers,” the Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud was quoted as saying by the ministry.
Ministry officers who spoke to this newspaper yesterday said that the rollout was going fairly well but many of the recipients and bystanders said otherwise.
A police officer who had been asked to standby after persons became annoyed about the situation and started to become disorderly at a site told this newspaper that the process was very disorganised and chaotic. She said that there was no number sequence, which made the distribution confusing. She said that the ministry officers needed to be more organized with the way in which the process was being carried out.
Chits
Stabroek News also visited the Rama Krishna Primary School in Kitty, where nearly two hundred elderly persons had gathered and were awaiting assistance. It was observed that the persons were being given numbered cards. While the number system was effective, persons complained that the process was slow and they were not happy because of it. The woman
handing out numbers explained that the first 100 persons received the first 100 chits and then another 100 for the next set of persons and so it continued. When this newspaper visited at about 10.40 am, the distribution had been at 59 for the first 100 persons. Another 100 persons had already started to receive their numbers.
Meanwhile, at the Campbellville Secondary School, the pensioners were also very upset about the distribution process. This newspaper observed persons trying to force themselves ahead of their position. The ministry’s officers constantly reminded persons that they had to follow the order in place to ensure errors did not occur. An officer also told this newspaper that the process was very time consuming. She added that many persons had turned up but assured that they all would be assisted yesterday. This newspaper observed that persons had to provide their identification card, the old pension book and a thumb print before they could receive the 2022 pension book and the voucher. The officers had to ensure there were no errors and were checking paperwork as well as jotting down information that was needed.
The task was slower, however, due to there being one officer who was authorised to write information while another officer helped with checking for information. There were at least three officers at the sites that were visited. The officers told this newspaper that the process did not speed up during the day. During an afternoon visit, this newspaper observed that persons who had been waiting during the morning were still at the sites and were again voicing their dismay. One of the officers at the East La Penitence Post Office told this newspaper that the persons had to collect their vouchers and pension books themselves.
In a release last Friday, it was noted this will be the first time that pensioners will be able to receive their pension books so early for the upcoming year. One of the recipients who was at the Campbellville Secondary School told this newspaper that he was happy to be receiving his voucher and pension book. He said that he would no longer have to stress about it and added that he intends to make use of the voucher to continue some construction on his home.
The ministry has advised persons to check the media and read the flyers which will be circulated in their respective communities in order to learn the distribution dates and which centres to go to. Additionally, pensioners who utilise the banking system will receive the cash grant via direct deposit in the month of October.
Pensioners did not have to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to uplift their pension books and vouchers.
