Better plan needed for pensioners

THE EDITOR: I write this letter hoping that the powers that be rethink the plan put in place for pensioners to renew and sign their life certificate.

Recently my relative received a letter from the Ministry of Social Development which asked that in July he comes in to sign his life certificate. The letter said he needed to walk with his National Identification Card and nominee card (where applicable).

Seven o’clock on Monday morning we visited the Tunapuna office, where we were met outside by a security officer who gave me a form with a chit stapled to it. The instructions on the chit said pensioners must bring the ID Card, birth certificate, passport, nominee card, original and copies.

I became angry because I felt they were wasting my time since this request should have been attached to the letter sent by mail. What about someone who has a driver’s permit but not a passport? What does he/she do? Imagine someone coming from Blanchisseuse and then finding this out.

Frankly, I don’t think a lot of thought was give to this. These old age pensioners are treated with scant courtesy. Some of them are hardly able to stand up, far less stand for a lengthy period of time in a long line. Others have relatives taking time-off to take them to the office.

The ministry should give serious thought to having a select few, for example bank managers (most pensioners have an account in the bank) or Justices of the Peace, witness the signing of the life certificate and verification of documents. These forms and supporting documents can be sealed in an envelope which can then be placed in drop boxes outside the ministry’s offices during opening hours.

If you can imagine that the Tunapuna branch services the entire St George East, you can see that the present protocol is ridiculous. Again the powers that be need to think about the thousands of old age pensioners that need to show proof of life. We need to do better.

P PHILLIP

via e-mail