Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters Sunday her People's Partnership government never promised to reduce the pensionable age to 60.
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has accused the new People's Partnership Government of reneging on its campaign promise to reduce to pensionable age to 60 and ensure that every pensioner receive a $3,000 monthly pension in place of a grant.
Read the story: Rowley says People's partnership lying to the people
However, Persad-Bissessar told reporters she never made such a promise.
"In my conversations on the platform I was very clear in my mind as we were very clear in our manifesto…I was very clear on two things, one, it will not be a grant we will restore the pension so it will be an entitlement, not a discretionary grant you can take or give, which we did, we kept that promise.
"And, I was also clear that there would be no one in that category, the pensioners, the existing ones getting the grant who will get less than $3,000 and we've kept that promise," Persad-Bissessar said.
She acknowledged that there was a misleading ad. "The difficulty arose because of an advertisement, the manifesto is very clear, we said life begins at 60, but there was no pledge at 60 you will rise to $3,000," she said.
Related: What the manifesto said: Life begins at 60
Speaking at the end of a 4-day retreat for members of her cabinet, Persad-Bissessar said it's not possible right now to pay pensions at age 60.
"The finances of the nation will not be able to do that at this time, but certainly if and when the finances of our nation will allow it, we will do it. But we also have in train as a matter of public policy; we are looking to increasing the retirement age to age 65 instead of age 60," she said.
Persad-Bissessar promised that her government will continue to study reform and harmonisation of all pension schemes within the public service.
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