Keith Rowley was angry Thursday as he addressed the media on a statement allegedly made online by Press Secretary Gavin Nicholas regarding the People's Partnership's promise of a pension for people who reach the age of 60.
"Lying is unacceptable," the opposition said as he produced excerpts from the People's Partnership manifesto and reprints of full page ad to prove that there was no "misprint" in the campaign promise on pensions.
Rowley said it is "shameful" behaviour on the part of the government to renege on the pension and then to suggest that any such promise was a misprint.
Rowley said, "What shocked us in the PNM, was that the Prime Minister is at the forefront saying 'we never promised that'," he said.
Rowley said the party's manifesto said "life begins at 60" and states that old age pensions would be increased to $3,000 a month.
He said in addition, Press Secretary, Garvin Nicholas, posted a comment on the PNM's Facebook page referring to retirement age as a "misprint".
He said Nicholas also said "the nation's coffers cannot at this time support a pensionable age of 60 mainly because of the squandering of the hundreds of billions over the last eight years".
Rowley claimed that it is wrong from the People's Partnership "to disown the manifesto position," he said.
"Approximately 50,000 people in this country had a choice to make when casting their vote, if they voted for this provision, it would have meant to them a payment of $3,000 a month, $36,000 a year for a five-year period," he said.
Rowley said people are bombarding his office will calls from people who claim that the People's partnership tricked them.
"Lying is unacceptable," the opposition said as he produced excerpts from the People's Partnership manifesto and reprints of full page ad to prove that there was no "misprint" in the campaign promise on pensions.
Rowley said it is "shameful" behaviour on the part of the government to renege on the pension and then to suggest that any such promise was a misprint.
Rowley said, "What shocked us in the PNM, was that the Prime Minister is at the forefront saying 'we never promised that'," he said.
Rowley said the party's manifesto said "life begins at 60" and states that old age pensions would be increased to $3,000 a month.
He said in addition, Press Secretary, Garvin Nicholas, posted a comment on the PNM's Facebook page referring to retirement age as a "misprint".
He said Nicholas also said "the nation's coffers cannot at this time support a pensionable age of 60 mainly because of the squandering of the hundreds of billions over the last eight years".
Rowley claimed that it is wrong from the People's Partnership "to disown the manifesto position," he said.
"Approximately 50,000 people in this country had a choice to make when casting their vote, if they voted for this provision, it would have meant to them a payment of $3,000 a month, $36,000 a year for a five-year period," he said.
Rowley said people are bombarding his office will calls from people who claim that the People's partnership tricked them.
1 comment:
"LIFE BEGINS AT 60" - does not imply pension begins at 60, the campaign promise is to raise the amount to $3000.00 upon reaching pensionable age, which in law is defined as 65 years old.
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