Govt re-tenders for construction of multi-million-dollar Elderly Care Centre

A new elderly care centre that was being built at Enmore, East Coast of Demerara (ECD), is being retendered.
According to the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, in its Invitation for Bids, bidders will be required to register with the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) before taking part in the procurement process.
It was explained that bids must be submitted to NPTAB by June 26, 2025, the day they will be opened. According to NPTAB, all bids must be accompanied by valid business registration, Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) certificates of compliance.
In last year’s budget, a sum of $172 million had been set aside to build the centre. And in October 2024, financial proposals had been opened at NPTAB for the design and supervision of the elderly centre.
Under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, significant advances have been made in the benefits accorded to the elderly. For instance, in the 2025 budget, old age pension was increased from $36,000 to $41,000. It is a move that has benefited over 76,000 pensioners, and has resulted in a total Old Age Pension payout of some $37 billion being transferred to senior citizens this year.
In 2021, all old-age pensioners were given $25,000 monthly; in 2022 that sum was increased to $28,000 and in 2023 that sum increased to $33,000. This is even while the number of pensioners that are being catered to by the Government has increased by 17 per cent as of 2024, thus marking the highest recorded figures to date in a single year.
In addition to pension increases, the PPP/C Government has also restored water and electricity subsidies for seniors, which were axed under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.
Significant efforts have also been made to improve services for Old Age Pension collection, and eye care support to almost 19,000 senior citizens, with another 7000 shut-in elderly persons benefitting from home-based medical care.
The PPP/C Government has also provided health vouchers for senior citizens, with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to make this a reality.
Just this month, the Government officially launched its NIS One-Off Payment Programme, aimed at providing financial relief to eligible senior citizens who have made between 500 and 749 contributions to the NIS but do not qualify for a pension. The initiative, spearheaded by President Irfaan Ali and unveiled in detail on April 10, 2025, was formally launched by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh.
It is expected to benefit more than 25,000 senior citizens across the country. To qualify, individuals must have turned 60 on or before December 31, 2024, have between 500 and 749 NIS contributions, and must not currently receive any pension from the NIS. Eligible beneficiaries will receive one-off payments of 500 to 549 contributions: $260,000; 550 to 599 contributions: $390,000; 600 to 699 contributions: $520,000 and 700 to 749 contributions: $650,000.
A total of $10 billion was allocated in the 2025 National Budget to finance the programme, reinforcing the PPP/C Government’s ongoing efforts to enhance the welfare of the country’s senior citizens.