Electronic OAP payment system next year – Lawrence announces

NEXT year pensioners across the country would benefit from the implementation of an electronic pension payment system for Old Age Pension (OAP), Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence announced on Wednesday during budget debates.

According to the minister, the new system is expected to improve the management and administration of the system that currently obtains. She said the new measure is geared at easing the burden on the elderly and improving the efficiency of the OAP payment system, as well as oversight of Senior Citizens Homes.

“Mr. Speaker, the Ministry in collaboration with the E-Government Agency, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications has commenced testing an Electronic Pension Payment System (EPPS). In 2017, there will be full implementation and operationalisation of the EPPS, which upon completion, is expected to improve the management and administration of the old age pension payments.”

The Minister said that since taking office the OAP reflects a 45 per cent increase and noted that pension now stands at $19,000 with more than 53,000 persons to benefit. She said too that Public Assistance will increase to $7, 500 from January 1, 2017.

Moreover, the Social Protection Minister noted the move by her administration to remove fees for the elderly who require for drivers’ licences, travel tax and passport fee and said that these are aimed at providing support to the country’s seniors.

“Mr. Speaker, I wish to state that the incentive that the opposition implemented for the elderly to exempt them from the payment of electricity and water lacked transparency and did not benefit all the elderly consumers. This is a caring government, Sir, there is no disparity in the distribution of the pension; all are entitled to the same equitable increase without exception,” said Lawrence.

Additionally, Minister Lawrence disclosed that her Ministry would be reviewing the existing Poor Law Act of 1942 to address the several issues which plague the safety network. She noted that senior citizens who do not have birth certificates, those without Identification cards and also those who set out to abuse the system will be addressed in the revision of the legislation.

Additionally, the review will also address persons who seek to encash vouchers that were issued months prior to the existing date. Lawrence said too that her Ministry has developed and finalized Minimum Standards for elderly residential facilities in line with international best practices and Guyana’s obligations under international treaties and agreements.

In 2017, the Ministry of Social Protection will establish a Senior Citizen’s Homes Oversight Committee, which will provide the guidance and support to bring all senior citizens homes in compliance with the minimum standard, the Social Protection Minister stated.

“Also an additional $500,000 is provided in the 2017 budget for one of our oldest private homes for the elderly, the Dharm Shala,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the Minister highlighted the success of the Hugo Chavez Home which accommodates homeless persons. She said the Home has capitalised on skills-training with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Ministry of Education and as a result, ducks, sheep, and poultry are being reared, in addition to having a vegetable farm.

“The climate at that Institution is motivational and it is the Ministry’s hope that other homes will emulate the residents of the Hugo Chavez Home and transform their lives through similar initiatives,” Lawrence stated.

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