Letter: Pension provision promised pastured public-servants.

On the campaign trail, the PM promised that all retired public servants would receive a minimum pension upgrade to $3,000.00 for their years of dedicated service, knowing that many surviving retirees were receiving pittances earned several years before recurrent devaluations and inflation.

This upgrade applied to earned pension for service, separate and apart from the proposed entitlement to $3,000.00 for the aged.

No mention was made of how earned concomitant NIS pensions to which all employees including public servants had contributed, would affect the aggregated pensions being received nor the proposed entitled old age pension.

It is well known that for years pensioners were subjected to a combined income ceiling that rendered their “grant” near meaningless. It was clearly implied that the proposed old age pension would no longer be so affected.

Apart from the reduction of pensionable age being reduced to 60 years, to which many had objected for several reasons, the PP appeared to promise a new vista for the aged many of whom could now look forward to some dignified winter years of independence from their complaining families.

Without any claims of reduced revenues, the Government has arbitrarily reneged on its promise of an unqualified old age pension entitlement.

The PNM response to the promises of the PP on the hustings was that the proposal was too ambitions given the reduced revenue streams. The PP, appearing to have a plan, scoffingly maintained their promises.

Today the PP has not officially stated why it has reneged on its promise to pay sovereign TT dollars to nationals, and has determinedly proceeded with providing promised laptops to students which will have to be funded by earned foreign exchange.

Apparently we can afford the dwindling foreign exchange but cannot afford the ever available TT currency.

The reality is that the pensions are entirely affordable to the government if it felt committed to its promise.

Increasing old age pension as promised will be giving money to responsible citizens whose responsible spending will enhance the economy. Their pension earnings will increase the GDP and stimulate the economy in recessionary times.

There is no downside to meaningful old age pension.

Many retirees had contributed far in excess of the minimum NIS requirements and now receive the same as those who met only the minimum installments. The entire ethic of work is being undermined when earned pensions mitigate entitlements.

The government is now secure in office for five years but the LGE will return in three. At that time we shall see how their broken promise will affect their electability.

M.F. Rahman