–with pension pegged at 25,000 p/m, water bill already taken care of

EFFECTIVE January 2021, old–age pensioners will receive $25,000, which is a $4500 increase on what currently obtains, while their water bill will be taken care of, as was the custom years ago, according to new measures outlined in the 2020 Emergency Budget.
The measures were among a host of other budgetary measures announced on Monday by President Irfaan Ali during a press conference held at the Aurthur Chung Convention Centre.
“The pension for old age pensioners will be $25,000 per month… [and] to reduce the cost of living and put money in pensioners’ pockets, we will revert to free water for pensioners,” President Ali said.
There are currently 59, 406 persons receiving government-provided pensions. Paid out by the government, and covered under the “Old Age Pensions Act”, old age pension is paid to all Guyanese who have attained the age of 65 years, and have been a citizen of Guyana for at least ten years preceding their claim for pension.
Old age pension was last increased by $1000 in the 2019 Budget, when it moved from $19,500 to $20,500.
Seventy-year-old Patricia Gould, from Patentia Housing Scheme, shared with the Guyana Chronicle that she is contented with the increase, and is grateful for whatever is provided to make the lives of the country’s senior citizens a little better.
“Whatsoever I get, I’m contented; if I get more, I am grateful for it,” Mrs. Gould said, adding: “I am always contented; I go to church, and I believe in God. I don’t have a husband; my husband died six years ago, and I thank God I am making out. I have two children that are big. I don’t depend on them; they have their own responsibility.”

A former schooleacher, Mrs. Gould says she also receives NIS, which helps to supplement her income, as she tries her best to live an independent life. She is also grateful for the restoration of free water for pensioners.

Granted yearly by the government, through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, recipients of government’s Old Age Pension were beneficiaries of subsidies on their water bill, which saw the government covering the cost of water for that age group.
However, the subsidy was removed by the previous administration, when they took office back in 2015.
During it’s time in opposition, the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had continually lobbied for the previous government to restore the subsidy.

Announcement of the new measures for the pensioners comes just weeks after Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud announced additional measures to make life better for senior citizens, which included home delivery of pensions to home-bound pensioners. She had also noted that the Ministry was looking to partner with MoneyGram and Western Union, for those businesses to be an alternative for pension payments.