Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
SHAW
PARLIAMENT ON Tuesday approved a Bill that will provide a pension scheme for members of the island's parish councils and the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).
The bill was piloted by Fitz Jackson, state minister in the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
The proposed legislation, which has been under consideration since the 1980s, requires that councillors contribute six per cent of their salaries into the Consolidated Fund as a contribution to their pensions.
Audley Shaw, Opposition spokesman on finance, used the opportunity to urge the finance minister to take the necessary steps to bring pension payments for government pensioners in line with the constitution, which he said is currently being breached, as many pensioners have to wait beyond the six-week
period allowed for payment.
The Auditor General's Report indicated that at the time of the audit there were serious delays of up to 11 months in the payment of approved gratuity and pensions to retired public officers, Mr. Shaw said.
He stated that at August 31, 2004, 482 pensioners or their beneficiaries were owed $253.8 million. Of this amount, $36.172 million was owed to 112 pensioners who had not received any advance on their pension.
