Pension increase influenced by growth in economy– President tells Enterprise senior citizens
Old Age Pension under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has been transformed from a regime that required a means test to one where eligibility is automatic at the age of 65, and as the economy continues on the path of growth, pensioners can expect an increase President Donald Ramotar assured.
President Donald Ramotar speaking to senior citizens of
Enterprise
He was at the time addressing senior citizens of Enterprise on the East Coast of Demerara gathered at the Enterprise Primary School for the community’s annual Christmas party where Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Ali Baksh and Director of Sport in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Neil Kumar also attended.
President Donald Ramotar interacting with senior citizens
during a Christmas social at the Enterprise Primary School
In April the government announced an increase in Old Age Pension to $10,000 subsequent to talks with the opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the presentation of the 2012 National Budget.
President Donald Ramotar playing pan with the Buxton Pride
Steel Orchestra during a Christmas party in Friendship
“We would like to make it (pension) more, but that has to be done with the growth of our country, and the growth of our economy. It cannot be done without us having this economic growth,” President Ramotar said.
The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security under whose control old age pension falls, commenced distribution of the 2013 Old Age books on November 19 and pensioners across the country turned out in their numbers to uplift.
President Donald Ramotar interacting with Presidential
Adviser on Community Development Odinga Lumumba and
his mother Elaine Mc Neil during a Christmas party at her
Friendship residence
The administration in keeping with the country’s projected growth rate has also increased pension assistance ‘ten-times-over’ resulting in about 44,000 pensioners benefitting from the monthly pension of $10,000.
Assistance also comes in the form of exemptions from paying water bills while grants in the sum of $10,000 are awarded for the acquisition of spectacles. Over 20,000 pensioners are exempted from paying water bills.
Today’s Christmas social in Enterprise also saw the handing over of an ultra sound machine to the Enterprise Health Centre from the Enterprise US Support Group and a plaque to Minister Baksh and Chandraika Rampal.
Before returning to Georgetown, President Ramotar stopped over at Lot 4 Friendship where Elaine Mc Neal mother of Presidential Adviser on Community Development Odinga Lumumba was hosting a Christmas party for children of the community.
President Donald Ramotar presents a monopoly game as a
give to a youth during a Christmas party at Elaine Mc Neil’s
Friendship residence
Music from the Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra under instructor Rollo Young livened the atmosphere and inspired President Ramotar to join the band in playing a few notes as they performed a Christmas carol rendition.
The Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra came into being after a string of discussions between the Government and Buxtonians when former President Bharrat Jagdeo made a historic visit in 2012.
