Treat pensioners fairly

Let me deal with the NIS first. The scheme got underway in 1972 and since then only minor increases in benefits were awarded in 1980 and 1999, though the National Insurance Act, I understand, requires that reviews be undertaken at least once every five years with the Minister of Finance, who is responsible for reporting on these reviews in Parliament. (See Newsday January 26, 2003 Edition Pg 3). Has this been done as stipulated? If not, what a travesty of justice for which someone should be held responsible.

What irks bitterly, is that TTARP (Trinidad and Tobago Association of Retired Professionals) submitted proposals in early 2002 to the Ministry of Finance which subsequently discussed with them the contents.

To elaborate, about four years ago, a Minister of Finance pronounced that NIS pensions should not be less than $1,000.00 per month. Last year, the Finance Minister also endorsed it and promised that during this fiscal year, retirees would receive the $1,000 per month.

What delays the implementation? The actuaries have probably finished their studies in 2002 and have probably submitted proposals. Please be reminded that "while Nero fiddles, Rome burns", our elderly are dying in droves daily without liveable recompense and with unfulfilled promises.

Secondly, I want to deal with Government pensioners. In 1986, there was a minuscule increase and in 2000 (14 years after) there was another pittance in which increases ranged between $150 and $250 per month but which, in fact amounted to between $108 and $180 after tax.

Is this justice for citizens who have generally served this country with distinction and whose submitted proposals like those made to the NIS and Government were ignored completely?

To defend and justify their ignoring of the pleas from this group, we often learn and read about the problem of growing numbers of retirees and other tra la la but isn’t the economy, through oil and gas resources, growing and outstripping by far the extra pittance retirees need to get to keep pace with the cost of living.

The politicians and senior public servants have devised a Salary Review Commission to feather their own nests and they will soon find millions to fatten their already bulging accounts.

The focus today is on their huge increases not on the down-trodden.

Alas, while most workers have legally certified bargaining units to champion their causes and even have recourse to the law if they so desire, the Cinderella retirees have no legally-recognised body to champion their cause nor do they have recourse to the law.

Many of them are hardly able to march, hold placards, demonstrate, and burn tyres along roadways or block streets to highlight their plight. It appears that the state regards them as liabilities and the quicker they expire the better for the coffers.

This is the gratitude they receive today.

They depend upon the whims and fancies of the politicians whose only interest in them may be their votes if these count at all or are needed. Please help these neglected souls immediately as time is against them since they trudge nearer to destiny each day without hope of redress.

KARAN MAHABIRSINGH
Chase Village