Latest update February 18th, 2025 11:27 AM
Jan 19, 2025 Letters
Dear Editor,
It is with deep disappointment that I pen this letter in response to the announcement by Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, that the old age pension will increase from $36,000 to $41,000 per month in Budget 2025. While this may superficially seem like an act of benevolence, it is, in truth, a stark reminder of how disconnected policymakers are from the grim realities faced by our senior citizens.
This token increase is woefully inadequate in a nation where the cost of living continues to skyrocket. Far from being a remedy, it exacerbates the indignity of old age by failing to address the systemic neglect that pensioners endure. Permit me to elucidate the key reasons why this measure is profoundly disappointing:
The government must recognise that this paltry increase is not progress, but a perfunctory gesture that insults the intelligence of the very citizens it purports to serve. What is required is a radical rethinking of how we support our elderly—a demographic that has dedicated decades to the building of our society.
A meaningful pension reform should align with real-world economic conditions. Beyond merely increasing the amount, the government must invest in mechanisms to reduce the cost of living, expand access to affordable healthcare, and implement targeted subsidies. Until such measures are adopted, the elderly will remain victims of systemic neglect, and the idea of a “dignified retirement” will remain a cruel fantasy.
Let us not fail those who built the foundations upon which we stand today.
Yours sincerely,
Raymond Yusuf
(The Pension increase: A cosmetic gesture in the face of harsh realities)
Feb 18, 2025
SportsMax – he Antigua and Barbuda Falcons have announced the appointment of Paul Nixon as their new head coach for the 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season. Nixon, a former...Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Mashramani, heralded as Guyana’s grand national celebration, is often presented as a... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News-Two Executive Orders issued by U.S.... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]