Gov’t confirms dispatch of $10 million of loan funds to Social Security; but concerns about holiday-season payments linger

The Government has confirmed that $10 million from the recent Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) loan has been dispatched to the Social Security Scheme.

The Minister of Finance, Prime Minister Gaston Browne, says the funds are to be used to meet the Scheme’s financial obligations for the months of September and October.

Pensioners are complaining that they have not being paid for several consecutive months, with some even claiming to be owed since June. 

Several of them have reported receiving their September pensions – but being disappointed that there were not two cheques as they had expected, based on the Administration’s promise. 

Gladys Potter, the United Progressive Party (UPP) Candidate for St. John’s Rural South, says the Browne Administration should have been paying closer attention to the country’s elderly, many of whom depend solely on their pensions.

She says it is distressing to see the struggles that pensioners have to go through, with one elderly man even resorting to stealing food to feed himself.

Meanwhile, despite the Government’s assurance of two months’ funding, concerns remain about the well-being of senior citizens going into the Christmas-holiday season.

Accordingly, UPP Senator Jonathan Joseph says a more substantial sum should have been transferred to the Social Security Scheme.

There are continued calls for the Government to seriously address the issue of Social Security pensions and stop taking a piecemeal approach to this very important issue.  

Hence, Joseph assures seniors that a UPP Administration would never treat them in this fashion.