Finance Minister to investigate complaints of delayed pension payments

 

Finance Minister Fayval Williams says she will be investigating the complaints of a delay in pension payments for June from the Accountant General's Department. 

 

Mrs. Williams has acknowledged that the number of complaints appear to be higher than usual. 

 

It was reported by Radio Jamaica's sister station TVJ on Monday that scores of retirees who turned up at the AGD's New Kingston office to find out the status of their payments for June were informed that they would have to wait until the next pay cycle in July. This, despite submitting their life certificates, which verifies proof of life, on time. 

 

The issue was put to the minister by Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson during Tuesday's sitting of the House of Representatives. 

 

"Most employed persons cannot go two months without being paid, and pensioners are now being told, having missed the June payroll, that they have to wait until the end of July to be paid, which means going two months. Many of them don't have children or other relatives who can bide them over during this period. So I'm asking you to use your office to get the Accountant General to make the outstanding payments before the July pay cycle. It may require additional administrative work, but we can't ask people to go two months when they have done what they were asked to do," he contended.

 

Minister Williams agreed that the situation is unacceptable. 

 

"Member, I agree with you that if that's the case, then it's not satisfactory for our pensioners to wait until the next pay cycle. To be honest, I had not heard of this en masse until you mentioned it. So this is something I'll jump on and investigate. Yes, every month I may get a WhatsApp from one or two persons saying I have not received my pension payment and, of course, I ensure that the respective department or entity respond to it, but it sounds as if you're saying more than the normal," she acknowledged.