Increase allowances for seniors, retirees, says Labour Minister
Labour Minister Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull said the government must take steps to ensure that the benefits and allowances of seniors and government retirees match inflation.
Speaking in the House of Assembly on October 25, Turnbull highlighted that many seniors and government retirees who left the workforce decades ago are struggling to meet their daily needs. He said the government must improve the allowances given to these residents who’ve played a pivotal role in building the society.
“If you look at persons like the educators of the past — principals and teachers who walked from East End to Cane Garden Bay then take a boat to Jost Van Dyke for $10 weekly or monthly; those people are now retired and the cost of living is going up but their benefits don’t go up. We expect them to survive? How?” Turnbull asked.
He said by raising the benefits and allowances paid to seniors and retirees, the government would be honouring them.
“I know we would have to consider how we implement something like this but we are talking about our history, our heritage. Our seniors are asked to live on retirement allowances and benefits way below even the minimum wage that we have in this territory,” Turnbull stated.
The government member pointed out that when asked, many seniors don’t speak about their financial struggles as they would prefer to stress how thankful they are.
However, Turnbull says if elected leaders listened closely, they’d realise that there is a need that must be filled to improve the lives of seniors.
Turnbull’s call comes amid a recent complaint from Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley that funding the Commission of Inquiry’s (COI) proposed reforms has proven to be a financial challenge for the government of the BVI.
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What with? All the money got wasted or stolen.
perhaps if government workers paid money into the pension fund it would help along with them retiring at the same age as everyone else does not start work at 20 retire at 45 and get paid pension from then, its a joke
Mitch is the last to talk the power gone to his head look what he did to the labour commissioner
Mitch is right that pensions need a radical overhaul. 1. Stop stealing from the SSB. The SSB took in 4x more than actuarial expense so increase the retirement pension to the actuarial value and stop government theft. 2. Government worker pension fund needs to be a seperate funded pension fund. Full pensions payable at 40 years AT RETIREMENT AGE OF 65. This is standard. Its complete nonsense that full time government workers are also drawing a pension. Two very easy fixes
Clueless banter as usual! BVI GOVT is the only place in the world where you retire and get a fat pension despite not contributing one dime to the plan. Money doesnt grow on trees young man, tell us how you will pay for this s**t. The irony is that this same Minister is in agreement with spending 4 million dollars on a building to house school and recreational center for an island of 300 ppl and now talking about taking care of seniors etc. You guys are F**KING JOKERS!!!!!
Stop coming up with new ways to spend money. Government needs to be financially responsible with current policies and projects.
Covid financial assistance was a joke.
The global financial crisis is going to hurt (already stared) everyone. Lower income households obviously the most.
Focus on food prices, fuel, & electricity. But mostly stop spending money you don’t have. And stop misspending money. It’s insulting.
Don’t kill the messenger . Look at the message . Yes ? that is true . With the cost of inflation how they expect retirees to cope . I agree with you . The people who pay into SS too and retiree needs to get an increase . Look what the Drew do with millions of our dollars and we are not benifitting . This country needs to look out for its elderly and retirees.
Where is the food ? Where is the fish? Did you see any changes with the millions that were given out … Food sustainability you say ???
Where was Carvin then? Where was Slowwanda then? Where was Neville Smith then? Where was Shreene then? Where was Sharie then? Is now they find their voice !! What a joke ? Where was your backbone then to fight for us ?
he is a wicked little boy. trying to get all kinds of illegal work permits for his *** when we have people here to do those work
And I say repeal the greedy bill immediately!them greedy politicians, put us in the UK hands. Looking after themselves on our dime. Stop the stealing!
Then it is time to implement the contributory pension plan a year from now; otherwise we keep kicking the can down the road. Simultaneously, re-start putting aside funds for now into the Pension Fund sinking fund of at least 1% for the next 5 years and pull back. We need to do this. Then invest some of the funds in the same schemes that Social Security Board are using.
This same Minister along with the others stupidly caved and gave up their district allocation because they are lazy and don’t want the task of assisting their constituents. Now he is here crying for more money? Isn’t that what the district allocation was for? So that each rep could assist their constituents with respective needs? This is all hogwash.
And need to raise she pension the money what one getting is shamefully can’t no nothing cost of living is at mount Everest.They don’t care about we.A mother thing every day you new exists especially Phillipinnis looking will just come I the country guys here looking work being rejected and handing out new work permit left right and center no fair
This same minister resisted the $400m loan that was guaranteed by the UK. He was overly emotional saying his forefathers never needed a loan. What nonsense. This territory could have well used that money to develop the airport, sewage, education, health and the infrastructure. Freeing up operating revenues to reform government pension and social services
Does every politician have a bar full of venezuelan ladies or are those mushrooms making me talk crazy.?