THE cost of living, especially consumables and services have risen and workers are demanding increased wages and salaries to cope with the inflation. My big question is; what is happening to the pensioners? NIS has been paying an increase for every category in the past. This year a law was discovered which limits the increase to pensioners who were receiving minimum pensions only. This smacks of a cover-up for the increase granted to old-age pensioners.

My concern has to do with the pensioners of the Sugar Trading Enterprise Pension Scheme (STEPS),who are at the mercy of the Board of Directors for any increases to be given and,when?

No increases were paid for years 2009 and 2010. However, a 5% increase was paid for 2011,after a letter of ‘Forgotten Pensioners’ appeared in the press. In the meantime, the members of this pension scheme will have to await the pleasure of the Board of Directors for any increase for 2012 or 2013.

Directors: please note that the price for going down is also going up. Please look into the members’ means of survival with some urgency.