Dear Editor,

KINDLY permit me a space in your newspaper to register my rebuttal against the Honourable Gail Teixeira, MP who held a press conference on July 6, 2016 and spoke on the Old Age Pension issue which she made a controversy. I say controversy, because it is Madam Gail and the PPP that are in public disagreement,while the APNU+AFC government is adhering to the laws of Guyana.To begin with, the Honourable Gail Teixeira agrees that approval must first be granted to an applicant for the non-contributory old age pension in Guyana, which is provided for under the Poor Relief Law. This confirms that old age pension is a gift to the applicant that satisfies the criteria for eligibility and not a must for all persons reaching 65.

Secondly, Ms Teixeira would have recognised that many Guyanese returned after long years of toil and cold weather and hardship to live in Guyana on the pensions they have duly earned in another country. I have no problem with them returning to enjoy their duly earned pensions, but they did not toil in this country nor did they withstand the hot weather or hardship of this country; hence, they should not impose themselves onto this country’s old age pension scheme. This country’s pension scheme caters for the people who toiled for her and withstood her hardships and further by removing the ones who toiled abroad will create a greater possibility of giving our “toilers” and hard workers more than $20 000.

Thirdly, my good friend Gail further recognised that the old age pension dates back to over 100 years and it was established to help the poor and vulnerable. I therefore respectfully ask her: Are those persons who are returning from their long toil in another country and receiving pensions from that country poor and vulnerable? That question answers itself.

Fourthly, Madam Chief Whip reminded our readers that the majority of persons who earn the old age pension are poor, in need of it, and look forward to it to help them survive. I fully agree with her on this point. However, she stopped short of saying that the minority of persons who are practising “double dipping” are actually the reason why old age pension is below minimum wage. When they are removed, then of course our poor and vulnerable, hard workers who toiled feverishly for Guyana would see a greater increase in their old age pensions. We are all au fait with this saying, “Lesser the man, bigger the share.”

Editor, it is my solid conclusion that Madam Gail Teixeira failed and failed miserably in her attempt to mislead the people of this country. Her desperate attempt to stay afloat with an attempt at gaining cheap political points did not work out, fundamentally because we as people of this land are educating ourselves and keeping abreast with current affairs. Something the PPP/C never wanted. I rest my case.

Yours faithfully,
Ganesh Mahipaul.