Elderly urged to use bank accounts to collect pension

Pensioners are urged to sign up with the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) to have their monthly pensions deposited into bank accounts in order to avoid robberies committed against them.

The appeal was made by the Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes at a press conference hosted by the GPOC on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Minister Hughes noted too that alternative methods of collecting pension would ease the long lines and overcrowding at post offices when pensioners rush at the same time to collect their monies.

“We know many pensioners probably were employed and probably had a bank account and we want to encourage them to sign up at the post office to have their pension based to a bank account. Later this month, I will meet with the Banks Association in an attempt to share with them and ask them to come onboard as we want to provide new payment systems,” Hughes stated.

The Minister suggested the possibility of having a debit card where the pension can be deposited and accessed by the users.

Pensioners have often been the victims of robberies. Just recently, a 71-year-old man was robbed on his way home after he collected his pension.

Pensioners often wake up at wee hours to visit the post offices to collect their pensions in order to avoid the long lines.

A 73-year-old woman who woke up extremely early to collect her pension recently met her demise after she was struck down on Brickdam Road.

Minister Hughes expressed that these situations are unfortunate and she pledged to work with the Post Office Corporation and other stakeholders to ensure better systems are put in place for the country’s elderly population.

Further, in an effort to make the experience of visiting the post office a more comfortable one for all Guyanese, moves are underway to rehabilitate offices across the country.

The Postmaster General Karen Brown said $30M has been set aside to conduct rehabilitation works which include installing security systems, air conditioning units, better seating and information and communication technology hubs.