THE EDITOR, Sir:
I THINK it is full time that some attention is given to the new group of "respectable poor" and I refer to government pensioners.
Sometime ago I read where pension increases were being asked for retired politicians, and Parish Councillors are demanding pensions after a few terms in office.
Now these pensioners have given 35 years and over to the country. Many of them in the period when they were not allowed to be involved in any other employment, and more so when salaries were low compared to earnings today. Those who retired in the '80s and early '90s are at a grave disadvantage as the pension bears no relationship to the cost of living today. Many have had to rely on the kindness of relatives in order to live.
If it is felt that it needs $20,000 per month for the street people to have a standard of living, why should a government pensioner receive less? Those persons who are suffering deprivation have not long to live for most are in their 70s and 80s. They have to meet considerable medical bills and the new property tax law will be the undoing of many, for they made sacrifices to own a home.
It is full time that some consideration is given to them. After all, the cost of taking care of these would be much less than some of the spectaculars that we are so great at staging.
I am, etc.,
DOREEN McLEOD-
BRAMWELL.
P.O. Box 52
Port Antonio
