Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 03, 2014 Editorial
Shameful is the only other word that describes what Guyanese endure after working their entire lives in their various roles in service of this country. No other word can begin to capture the virtually apathetic posture of men and women over the age of sixty having to stand in long lines awaiting the returns from their contributions to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) over the years.
At the post offices, which are mandated to effect the monthly payout to pensioners, both NIS and Old Age, at the same time elderly people can be observed standing or simply milling about in the hope that money will not run out before they reach the counter. The thing is that these post offices are very small, considering the volume of persons who occupy those limited spaces the first working Monday of every month. What this means is that in the sweltering heat of the day one can see groups of listless-looking people waiting patiently to collect their sometimes meagre pension.
With respect to the weather, it does not seem as if the authorities who came up with the bright idea of making a payout on one day considered that the post offices do not provide adequate shelter. And therefore when it rains – as it will in this country – those pensioners are caught in the open, and the risk of influenza and related illnesses becomes real, especially in view of the inadequacies of the public health system. Those valiant people – many of whom still have lots to offer to their country – should not be made to seem like mendicants every month simply because of visionless officials.
There is no clear reason why another more acceptable system of monthly payout cannot be implemented to ease the burden of people standing for hours to receive payment. And if that is not aggravating enough, money sometimes runs out leaving people to return another day, which they might not be able to afford. Therefore it is incomprehensible why an alphabetical system should not be worked out to make life easier for all concerned. Surprising as it may seem, the fact that the elderly are willing (if not forced) to pack themselves into unbearable conditions suggests that a significant number of Guyanese over-sixty may be in dire financial straits.
The initiatives which government has rolled out with respect to our senior citizens might be termed innovative from a policy perspective, but they fall way below the standards that a resource-rich country like Guyana could afford to repay those worthies. It is high time that the social services sector revisit the rationale and economics of public assistance with particular reference to subsidies in the priority areas of electricity and water. But such a review should not preclude going further to include other substantial inflows from the public purse like food hampers, periodic health checkups, access to public transport, and a range of other benefits. It only requires commitment and positive action in place of mundane political rhetoric for these things to be realized.
It might also be a good idea to introduce a system where the welfare, safety and security of seniors and shut-ins are checked on a periodic basis by state officials, including the police. These interventions are practiced in other places to the satisfaction of the beneficiaries who for all intents and purposes may be inside a house unconscious or otherwise unable to respond.
The experience in this country has been that a person living alone might be a victim of a crime which is not discovered until a curious neighbour reports a suspicious odour or does not notice the presence of the occupant next door. Of course there is always room for abuse and this should be guarded against by deriving strict guidelines for making welfare checks.
What everything boils down to is that as a people, Guyanese should be paying more attention to the needs of the elderly and the conditions of their daily lives. Regardless of how many politically correct statements are made, it is evident that more needs to be done to make the lot of our senior citizens a reflection of how appreciative we all are for their sacrifices and contributions to national development.
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