Gov’t committed to improving the wellbeing of elderly – Finance Minister

700 pensioners benefit from Salvation Army’s annual hamper distribution

Approximately 700 pensioners and persons from vulnerable groups, on Monday benefitted from the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas hamper distribution at its head office on Alexander Street.

The government supported the initiative and Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh was in attendance to distribute the hampers.

The finance minister during remarks reiterated the government’s commitment to increasing old-age pension to $40,000 within its first five years in office.

“Speaking as a representative of this government, I will tell you this because I know I can speak on behalf of my president, under the stewardship of President Irfaan Ali, you will be getting more,” he said to loud applause.

Acknowledging that there are several persons having issues with accessing their pension, the minister stated, “My commitment to you is that we will continue to roll out outreaches in order to address as many of the NIS problems, as we possibly can.”

Dr Singh said the PPP/C Government under the leadership of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali will work towards improving the welfare of the elderly and persons living with disabilities.

This, he said, is in keeping with the president’s ‘One Guyana’ vision.

The Department of Public Information spoke to some beneficiaries of hampers.

Ernestine Rodrigues expressed, “I am very, very much pleased and thank God that we could receive the Christmas hampers, it would do us good and everything, it’s a help to us.”

Donette Fowler added, “I feel so happy and blessed in the name of Jesus. I’m happy that I’m here, my mother was a salvation army, she died years ago and I always want to visit […] it’s a real help to me because I am not working.”