Pensioners struggling amid rising supermarket prices — Walwyn

Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has warned that pensioners in the British Virgin Islands are struggling to survive as supermarket prices continue to rise, arguing that current social security payments are no longer sufficient to meet basic living costs.

Speaking in the House of Assembly recently, Walwyn said seniors and pensioners were being left behind at a time when the cost of living was increasing across the territory. He noted that even working residents were finding it difficult to manage household expenses.

“Those of us who are working two and three jobs or who have decent enough salaries, we’re complaining about the price of food. We’re complaining about the price of everything,” Walwyn said. “You can imagine those people on a stable income, a little $400, $300, what they must be facing every month?” he asked. 

Walwyn said many elderly residents relied almost entirely on monthly social security payments and had little room to absorb higher food prices. He argued that this reality should prompt the government to review pension levels and consider an increase.

The Opposition Leader said he had hoped to hear concrete measures for seniors during the recent budget debate and the Speech from the Throne but was disappointed no specific commitment was announced to raise pensions.

“I was waiting to hear in the budget debate, in the speech from the throne, that something will be done to increase the pension for seniors through Social Security,” Walwyn said. “We can do it,” he added. 

Examine modest adjustments

He argued that the Social Security Board had the financial capacity to examine modest adjustments without undermining the system’s long-term stability.

“I think social security is healthy enough that the figures that people get from social security on a monthly basis could be increased to help people, especially those people who are seniors, even those who are pensioners,” Walwyn said. 

Walwyn said any increase should be guided by clear criteria but stressed the need for action rather than continued discussion.

“Look at it and see if we can increase the pension amount to persons who rely on Social Security to live,” he said. “At the end of the day, let us try to see how we can make things better for them,” he stated. 

“The pensioners who have been asking about their increase all the time and getting lip service, I hope that something is done to alleviate things for the pensioners,” Walwyn said. 

Walwyn’s criticisms come amid assurances from the government that it is pressing ahead with reforms to modernise the Public Assistance Programme, with Health Minister Vincent Wheatley noting that nearly 200 seniors had benefited from more than $500,000 in assistance grants.