The People's Partnership never promised to reduce the pensionable age to 60, said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar adding that what Government is looking at is increasing the retirement age from 60 to 65.

She added that the present state of this country's economy does not allow the Government to pay a monthly pension to persons who are 60 years of age.

"The finances of the nation will not be able to do that at this time, but certainly if and when the finances of our nation will allow it, we will do it. But we also have in train as a matter of public policy; we are looking to increasing the retirement age to age 65 instead of age 60," she said.

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and members of the PNM Opposition had accused the People's Partnership Government of failing to deliver its promise made in its manifesto — to reduce to pensionable age to 60 and ensure that every pensioner receive a $3,000 monthly pension in place of a grant.

"If I were to be honest with you, first I would say, it wasn't me. In my conversations on the platform I was very clear in my mind as we were very clear in our manifesto…I was very clear on two things, one, it will not be a grant we will restore the pension so it will be an entitlement, not a discretionary grant you can take or give, which we did, we kept that promise. And, I was also clear that there would be no one in that category, the pensioners, the existing ones getting the grant who will get less than $3,000 and we've kept that promise," said Persad-Bissessar.

She was  responding to questions from the media at a press conference at the Coco Reef hotel, Tobago, where Government's four day workshop came to an end.

"The difficulty arose because of an advertisement, the manifesto is very clear, we said life begins at 60, but there was no pledge at 60 you will rise to $3,000," she said.

Persad-Bissessar said there has been ongoing, the issue of pension reform and harmonisation of all pension schemes within the public service.