The Editor, Sir:

Too many government pensioners live in penury, barely surviving each day from hand to mouth. Were it not for their families' generosity and that of their friends, some could starve to death. That is why it is incumbent on the government to ensure that they receive their paltry sums regularly and on time.

But are adequate arrangements in place to make sure that this happens? Because of administrative deficiencies, numerous distressed senior citizens, who have worked all their lives in often difficult conditions, are being denied timely disbursement of their pension stipends. They cry out for help.

Complains wearily

One forlorn gentleman complains wearily to the clerk at the pension's office on King Street in downtown Kingston that he had to pay $60 out of his last $90 to get from Portmore to enquire - to no avail as it turned out - about non-payment of his life-saving emoluments.

Now he has only $30 left. How is he to get back home? As answer to his predicament he was advised by the clerk to use the Mandela Highway this time, rather than take the new highway.

Now, like so many others, a frazzled old man had mailed in his certificate establishing that he was still alive. Unfortunately for him, the pensions branch of the Accountant General's Department did not receive it. This, he found out only when his stipend did not arrive.

So, he struggled to King Street to check on his lifeline. Result? He must wait until the next payment is due before that foregone payment can be made. And in the meantime? Who cares? This certainly is inhumane and cruelly inconsiderate.

No system is perfect. The pensions branch is short staffed and underequipped in terms of the appropriate technological capability needed, and, perhaps, an adequate number of competent workers.

Fall between the cracks

So, too, no doubt, is the postal service. But is enough being done to make up for the systemic breakdown of the transmission of correspondence by post, when it does occur, and so relieve a poor senior citizen's suffering? After all, it is not her fault that the breakdown occurred.

A creative solution is urgently necessary, because current corrective measures, albeit well intentioned, are not sufficient. Too many of our senior citizens still fall between the cracks.

The Accountant General's Department should, therefore, review its procedure as it relates to verification of pensioners' continued eligibility to receive their hard-earned entitlement. It is their livelihood. Their punishment should not be allowed to continue.

I am, etc.,

H. DALE ANDERSON

hdaleanderson@gmail.com