It has been almost two months since lockdown measures designed to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus were announced, but senior citizens are still forced to congregate in large crowds to collect their pensions.
A large group of persons gathered at the Vreed-en-Hoop Post Office to wait in line for pension payments
This section of the population has been listed as vulnerable for contraction of COVID-19, and there have recently been many calls for a systematic and effective way to be implemented for these persons to uplift their monies without being exposed to any risks.
However, over the past week, senior citizens have been flocking post offices to get their pensions – standing in line from inside the building, through the gates and even onto the streets — braving the morning sun to stand in line with little or no social distancing being practised.
The Guyana Post Office Corporation had announced that it was working to implement standardised measures across its offices in the 10 administrative regions to stop the spread of the deadly virus. This included payment of pensions in an alphabetical system and the enforcement of three- foot distances between persons accessing services. Persons would also be asked to sanitise their hands upon entry at post offices, and those who are coughing or have a cold would be provided with a face mask.
However, this latter measure is yet to be implemented, as the elderly were seen without face masks, interacting with each other while waiting in line.
One pensioner, Ramrajie (only name), who collects her pension at the Vreed-en-Hoop Post Office, told this publication that she needed the money to conduct a few transactions, thus there was no choice for her but to wait in line. She said she lives alone, so she could not authorise anyone to collect the money on her behalf.
In mid-April, People’s Progressive Party Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali had said it was necessary for systems to be implemented to cater for the elderly. In an interview with this publication, Ali had suggested, as one measure, that the elderly receive advance payments for at least two months, thus eliminating the need for them to even have to leave their homes.
“Pensioners form part of the most vulnerable group. What we’ve seen is no adjustment in the administrative mechanism,” the presidential candidate had explained.
Back in March, the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) had urged senior citizens to refrain from visiting post offices during the first two days of the month unless under absolutely necessary circumstances, since vouchers can be cashed throughout the month.
This advisory had been in response to thousands of senior citizens who usually congregate at the various post offices to access their pension payments every first and second day of each new month.
The situation described above was the same that had obtained during the month of April.
