Dear Editor,
On Monday October 19, a new organisation called the Guyana Association of Retired Persons (GARP) was launched at the exclusive Georgetown Club. I welcome the initiative. But the red carpet, formal attire, bouquets, gifts and elaborate acknowledgements contrasted sharply with pensioners struggling with inadequate incomes, difficulties obtaining benefits, and public buildings almost inaccessible to the infirm. The occasion offered an opportunity to demand concrete commitments from those responsible for their welfare. The opportunity was largely missed.
The Guyana Constitution supplies the proper starting point. Article 24 recognises the right to free medical attention and social care in old age and disability, while Article 149D (2) requires the State to take measures to protect disadvantaged persons and persons with disabilities. Article 149B expressly protects public sector workers’ pension and gratuity entitlements. These guarantees should have framed the launch. Pensioners are citizens with rights, and GARP – and all persons and groups purporting to represent them – should promote and defend their interests.
Instead, the launch celebrated President Irfaan Ali as patron by virtue of holding the presidency, while GARP’s constitution remains unpublished. Beyond his office, Ali has no moral claim to the honour while his Government stands accused of systematically and knowingly underpaying approximately 27,000 NIS minimum-pension recipients for over five years, forcing them to seek redress in court. The accumulated shortfall potentially exceeds $500,000 per pensioner. These are earned entitlements owed to people some of whom, as GARP President Joseph Harmon acknowledged, must choose between food and medical care.
To earn the privilege, Ali should have been asked to commit publicly that his government would consent to the reliefs sought in the legal action brought by a few brave pensioners and facilitate payment of their lawful entitlements as early as practicable, but certainly before yearend. The launch was an ideal occasion for the announcement of that undertaking. Dr. Vindhya Persaud, the Minister of Human Services and Social Security was present, and the President had also sent representatives. There were ample channels through which to convey a demand.
It appears that GARP’s constitution provides for Presidential and ministerial representation on its Board, raising immediate concern about its independence, sharpened by the absence of workers’, consumers’ and independent civil society representatives from the platform. This places GARP in danger of becoming another captured civil society body from birth.
GARP should immediately publish its constitution, explain how its Board was selected, widen its membership and announce elections. Meanwhile, I invite Mr Harmon and his fellow directors to publicly support the pensioners’ court action and to call on their patron to facilitate payment of what is lawfully due. That would give pensioners a concrete reason to welcome GARP and provide an early test of its independence.
Readers can view the launch on Facebook and judge for themselves.
Yours faithfully,
Christopher Ram
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