Old Age pensioners on Monday at the Enmore Post Office for their monthly payout

Old age pensioners on Monday joined long lines at post offices countrywide, with mixed views about the GUY$600 increase in their monthly ‘small piece’.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh last week announced in the 2012 National Budget that the Old Age pension would increase from GUY$7,500 to GUY$8,100 per month.

While Singh compared the new monthly pay-out to the 2006 figure of GUY$3,500, several elderly persons lamented the paltry sum being offered.

Many of them said they would have welcomed a minimum of GUY$1,000 more while others would have liked to take home around GUY$10,000 or GUY$15,000 at the end of the month in light of the high cost of living.

In Georgetown, at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) headquarters, several pensioners spoke with Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com)

“I think they could have done better. They could have made it ten thousand. They can afford to do that,” said Neville Adams.

Asked what the GUY$600 pension-hike meant for him, he said: ”It could buy something. You could drink a beer or two but on a larger scale, they could very well pay the ten thousand.”

Just behind Adams was standing a man, who preferred to give his name only as Patrick, was a bit more appreciative of the hike. “At least it’s an increase rather than getting nothing. You still have to praise God for it. You have to live with it but it should have been something more.”  At the same time, he observed that one plate of food costs more than GUY$600.

“Poor people work thirty and forty years and that is most embarrassing to the old people. That’s an insult,” said an elderly woman, adding that she would have been more comfortable with a pension of GUY$14,000.

Pensioner, Eudora Harris predicts that even with the additional GUY$600, the cost of living will climb but at the same time “we thank God for what we getting.”

At Enmore Village, an East Coast Demerara traditional stronghold of the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP), reaction to the Old Age pension hike was also mixed.

“I’m thankful very much that we can get a little more ‘raise-of-pay’. I don’t know! What they want to do, they will do, we cant fight anyone,” said Lalita Ramchand as  she was leaving the Enmore Post Office.

Inside the Post Office yard, a feeble Neil Mojum voiced dissatisfaction with the new pension, saying “that’s not right. That can’t help us. We want more…Cost of living high. I don’t have anyone to ‘mine’ me,” he said. Among his priorities are foodstuff, telephone bill and water bill.

“The government is trying but it can’t compensate a pensioner with eight thousand dollars. You have to try and help yourself,” added Harry Paul who was chatting with Mojum.

Doodnauth Singh,75, does not remember the last day he ate chicken because it’s too expensive. He depends on the demolition of old houses to get wood to cook his meals. “That thing can’t pay light bill or buy ration…Countryman, you got to thank God, you get a kitchen garden to get lil bora and lil ochro to eat,” he adds.

Yet another pensioner lamented that the new pension would amount to less than GUY$300 per day. “Do you feel that any human being can survive on three hundred dollars per day?....they don’t have shame,” says Kenty Holder of Golden Grove.

One loaf bread costs about GUY$260 and a bottle of drink costs between GUY$120 and GUY$260 per bottle, depending on the size and brand.

Holder wants government to also consider the elderly whose children have abandoned them. “Some persons, they are so feeble. They put all their effort towards their children and the next thing the very children, who they exert all their youthful energy on, desert them. There is no one to offer them anything but an Old Age Pension. Give something reasonable!  

Pensioner, Eudora Harris predicts that even with the additional GUY$600, the cost of living will climb but at the same time “we thank God for what we getting.”

At Enmore Village, an East Coast Demerara traditional stronghold of the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP), reaction to the Old Age pension hike was also mixed.

“I’m thankful very much that we can get a little more ‘raise-of-pay’. I don’t know! What they want to do, they will do, we cant fight anyone,” said Lalita Ramchand as  she was leaving the Enmore Post Office.

Inside the Post Office yard, a feeble Neil Mojum voiced dissatisfaction with the new pension, saying “that’s not right. That can’t help us. We want more…Cost of living high. I don’t have anyone to ‘mine’ me,” he said. Among his priorities are foodstuff, telephone bill and water bill.

“The government is trying but it can’t compensate a pensioner with eight thousand dollars. You have to try and help yourself,” added Harry Paul who was chatting with Mojum.

Doodnauth Singh,75, does not remember the last day he ate chicken because it’s too expensive. He depends on the demolition of old houses to get wood to cook his meals. “That thing can’t pay light bill or buy ration…Countryman, you got to thank God, you get a kitchen garden to get lil bora and lil ochro to eat,” he adds.

Yet another pensioner lamented that the new pension would amount to less than GUY$300 per day. “Do you feel that any human being can survive on three hundred dollars per day?....they don’t have shame,” says Kenty Holder of Golden Grove.

One loaf bread costs about GUY$260 and a bottle of drink costs between GUY$120 and GUY$260 per bottle, depending on the size and brand.

Holder wants government to also consider the elderly whose children have abandoned them. “Some persons, they are so feeble. They put all their effort towards their children and the next thing the very children, who they exert all their youthful energy on, desert them. There is no one to offer them anything but an Old Age Pension. Give something reasonable!

Finance minister Dr. Ashni Singh in his budget presentation on Friday stated that despite the increase in production with the 2011 output being the highest since 2008, “output continues to lag the production trajectory anticipated by the industry’s long term business plans, and industry finances are being adversely affected.

The industry has set itself a 400,000 tonnes target to meet by 2015. The minister also announced a GUY$4B package for GuySuCo in order to ensure that the sugar industry is financially able to meet its operating and investment requirements