PM Kamla will fufill all promises; $3,000 pensions, laptops and Life fund top list

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is keeping her promise to seniors to pass legislation quickly for a universal $3,000 per month old age pension. She told the media Friday that she intends to do it within 30 days.

Persad-Bissessar said the Ministries of Finance and Social Development will consider such pension legislation to be brought to Parliament.

She also said the Government would also consider upgrading the pensions of persons receiving a minimal NIS pension and of long-retired Public Service pensioners who get low pensions.

She also said she will fulfill her pledge to give each SEA Exam pupil a laptop computer.

The Prime Minister said the finance minister is still taking a close look at the country's finances and noted that the government would look at priority areas each month until the end of this financial year in September. She said the new budget would focus on national priorities.

Persad-Bissessar also announced that she has told Attorney-General Anand Ramlogan to prepare the legislation within a month to set up the $100 million Life Fund to pay for medical treatment for sick children that was a highlight of the election campaign pledges.

The legislation would include policies to guide private donations to the fund, and the way patients could access such help. She had pledged to take a 10 per cent pay cut to contribute to the fund and ministers would contribute five per cent of their salaries to it. She said that took effect on June 1.

Persad-Bissessar said the Life Fund would run on a case by case basis until the proper legislation is passed in Parliament. The contribution from cabinet ministers would total $707,000 a year.

She gave the assurance that the government will carry out all the pledges in the People's Partnership 32-point, 120-day plan.

Commenting on the flooding that has engaged her attention since her inauguration, the Prime Minister said Cabinet has agreed to set up an inter-ministerial committee on flooding and drainage.

Works Minister Jack Warner is chairing that group, which will produce an Action Plan to immediately alleviate flooding.

Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma told reporters that local elections will be held as scheduled. The latest date for the poll would be October 12.