Former mayor of Morant Bay, Allan Ross. - Photo by Gareth Manning
Life is about to get a bit more comfortable for 87-year-old retired Morant Bay mayor, Allan Bonaparte Ross.
Ross, who receives no pension and relies on charitable neighbours in the Montpelier housing scheme in Yallahs, St Thomas, is set to receive a cheque totalling $150,000 from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security today.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles made the disclosure on Friday to The Gleaner.
The minister said after finding out about the former mayor's situation from an article published in last week's edition of The Sunday Gleaner, he immediately arranged for a team to visit Ross' residence the following day.
"We read the story on Sunday and I introduced and sent a team to his home the following Monday ... I honestly did not know that he was in such a state, but we will be making life much better for him," the minister said.
To be visited today
Minister Charles said that Ross would be visited today and the cheque handed over to him for retroactive payment, in keeping with Cabinet's recent approval of an amendment to the National Insurance Act to enable the payment of arrears of up to three years.
Charles noted that he wanted to thank The Gleaner for publishing the story and requested that other cases of this nature, if any, be brought to light so the ministry could address them.
He said the social security ministry would also be examining further assistance that could be provided to the retired mayor.
Ross was mayor of Morant Bay between 1974 and 1977, but served as councillor for the Llandewey division for 17 years.
Government enacted legislation in January 2005, which provides a pension for parish councillors who have served since January 1986, when they began to receive a salary.
Speaking a week ago to The Sunday Gleaner regarding Ross' situation, Chairman of the Association of Local Government Authorities Milton Brown said: "There are councillors prior to 1986, and even subsequent to then, who are having tough times because there is no provision to take care of them in their bad times."
