Old age pension booklets for distribution next month
Stabroek News
January 24, 2004
Old age pension booklets will be ready for distribution in February, an official at the Social Security Ministry told this newspaper yesterday.
And with the five per cent increase awarded to public servants last year, the pensioners' stipend has increased from $1,820 to $1,910.
Speaking to Stabroek News the official explained that the ministry had already received the printed booklets and officers were preparing them to be distributed. Asked why the distribution was delayed from the usual January 14, the official said this year the ministry was working towards minimising some of the confusion that arises whenever booklets are distributed.
When the new system was introduced in January 2002, it was filled with confusion as some of the old folks found it very difficult to adjust. Previously, the Guyana Post Office Corporation was responsible for both the payments and distribution of the booklets but the distribution was removed from under the GPOC. Minister Bibi Shadick had said then that there were many flaws in the old system which allowed for some persons receiving more than one booklet. Extra coupons had been printed and phony names and serial numbers put on them.
The new system, though confusing at the start, was able to root out some of the flaws and thefts in the old system and in 2002, a $14 million fraud was uncovered. Even though no one has been charged in connection with the fraud, which involved a network of postal officials and officers of the ministry, some persons were dismissed. In the case of GPOC, some were reinstated after making restitution.
Additionally, the official told this newspaper that last year some 31,000 booklets were printed and distributed, which was far less than the previous year when the fraud was uncovered.
This year the figure could be even less, as further investigations and scrutiny of the pensioner's list revealed that there are probably fewer than 31,000 pensioners in the country.
In terms of the system this year, the source said pensioners would still be required to visit specific centres to uplift their booklets, but the process would be less cumbersome this year since the booklets would have already been written up.
Stabroek News was told that one of the reasons why in the years gone by there were long lines was because the social workers had to write up the vouchers on site. According to the official, everything has been prepared for the distribution: centres located and officers and assistants contacted.
Stabroek News was told however that there was still a shortage of staff at the Social Security section of the ministry which means that the workload would greatly increase come February.
This newspaper was told also that shut-ins would also receive their booklets in February, while public assistance booklets would be distributed at a later date.
The official acknowledged that several pensioners have turned up at the office to find out when they will receive their booklets. The officer said once the books were ready they would receive both their January and February stipends at the same time.
"We understand their hardships and need for the money but we are working hard to get things done very soon," the official added.
Over recent years, pensioners have complained about the late payment of their January stipend. Some who had no other income would depend on the money to purchase food, pay their bills and even travel.
They had made calls for an increase in what they called a "living on the edge" stipend which was far too small considering the economic situation in Guyana.