I want all my pensions

THE EDITOR: I am gainfully employed, I pay my taxes (35 percent), VAT 15 percent, Gas Tax 5 percent, Pension Plan 6 percent, Class XII NIS (Revised 1999) and Health Surcharge 2 percent. When I reach retirement age (60), I ought to be in receipt of all the pensions to which I contributed. My Pension Plan’s pension, NIS pension and old age pension when I reach 65. Nothing must debar me from receiving all three pensions. If there is any legislation that will prevent me from receiving all three pensions, then the choice of whether I want to contribute to a pension plan or NIS or pay taxes must be mine.

Basically I know that I will not qualify for old age pension since I own a house, a car and some money in the bank. That is the one yardstick that is used to disqualify a taxpayer from that old age pension. The ones who don’t pay taxes, did not save for the rainy day, who were not keen on owning a house are the ones to first qualify. Why must I be penalised for doing what was expected of me? If I was “hand to mouth” and lived as though there was no tomorrow, then the Government would be only too willing to give me $1,000.00 per month to live on.

Because I did not live that way then I will not benefit from all the 33 years of taxes paid. Does it pay to be a miser or a spender? What about those top Government officials who are in receipt of four and five pensions? Why should I be treated differently from them because I am a nobody? It’s about time that somebody looks at real justice in Trinidad. Is the Ombudsman really effective in administering justice to aggrieved citizens?

KATZ BELLAR
Cunaripo