Dear Editor,
Please publish this letter as regards our observation and investigation on the plight and grave situation of the 60-below 65 years group of N.I.S pensioners. This group is considered the most vulnerable as they are more depressed, malnourished (a degraded form of starvation) as we have witnessed for the past few months dozens who have died, were buried and cremated. At least we have witnessed this on the East Coast and West Berbice. This is a shameful scenario for the families and residents who do not want to be identified because of the stigma/disgrace it will heap upon them and communities.
Here the 65 years plus+ are more prone to receive grants as past experience has shown in addition to their N.I.S benefit and $28,000.00 Gov’t pension. The above 60 years and below 65 years have so far not receive such benefits as mentioned above. The Gov’t / finance Ministry can get the facts from the N.I.S administration that their pension age begins at 60 and not 65 as they have led the public to believe. This vulnerable group cannot now cope with the growing and unbearable cost of living; they need now and are demanding the financial measures to be put in place:
Eg1. As death is at their doorstep, this category believe that a reasonable sum of oil revenue should be transferred to N.I.S management to distribute at least $40,000.00 to each N.I.S pensioner as almost all the pensioners we spoke to say this is the only way they can benefit from oil revenues as the oil revenues bonanza is mostly meant for the younger generation.
2. The past and current N.I.S Board of Directors has brought on a most woeful and pathetic situation and should be evicted and an Expression of Interest be advertised for a more professional board in the same way the Chief Elections Office for GECOM was vetted and appointed. The EOI should target persons with actuarial / international investment experience.
As such a most reasonable increase should be given across the board; possibly $5000.00 to be reasonable and remove the freeze on any increase for the past 2 years which is taking a severe toll on the lives of these pensioners. The current gov’t, we would want to believe, can only be fair, flexible and make bold decisions with the political will to do so, that will resonate well with the beneficiaries and the entire populace. We sincerely anticipate immediate proactive action to rescue and give comfort to this most vulnerable group. The relative Gov’t department, be it the Ministry of Human Services must act with haste before any escalation of the afore-mentioned.
Sincerely,
Tangaban Indar
Indiar Hardeo
