Minister Amery Browne, the shortfall in pensioners’ cheques was either the result of incompetence or a deliberate act. Which should we believe?

The other Minister Browne advised us to study economics so we could understand the brilliance of wasting the money ’saved’’ from the unnecessary purchase of luxury cars on the unnecessary ’upgrade’’ of the Piarco airport to welcome those attending the unnecessary (and useless) conferences.

And why is it so difficult for Government officials to speak the plain and simple truth? Even as hundreds of pensioners all over the country were seeking answers, the Permanent Secretary tells us, ’A small amount (of pensioners) may have been affected.’ Small amount? May have been?

According to the newspapers, ’The serious error caused Social Development Minister Amery Browne to call for a review of what he called the complicated system of senior citizens grants...’  Complicated? The programming logic of the system to issue pensioners’ cheques would go something like this:

’If the pensioner is receiving NIS of $2000, issue a cheque for $800; otherwise, if the pensioner is receiving income of less than $1000, issue a cheque for $1850; otherwise, issue a cheque for $1950.’

Complicated, Mr Minister? It is so simple that I would not insult my beginning programming students by giving them that as a project. No, sir. It appears that someone wants you to believe that the system is complicated to cover for their incompetence.

I also find it difficult to believe that thousands of cheques could be issued with the wrong amount and nobody noticed. This gives credence to some pensioners’ view that they were deliberately short-changed. Perhaps the ’savings’’ from the luxury cars was not enough and a little extra was needed quickly for the airport upgrade or other belt-loosening activities?

Whatever the reason for the shortfall, pensioners should not have to wait until the end of January to receive their just amount. If, according to the PS, we are talking about a small amount (of pensioners), surely it should be no problem to prepare and issue manual cheques by January 14, when the $800 would normally run out.

To have our old folks wait longer than that would be unconscionable, wouldn’t you agree, Minister Browne?

Dr Noel Kalicharan

Computer Science Author/Lecturer