Premier apologises for delay in retiree pension increases
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has apologised to government retirees after a long-awaited increase in their pension payments was delayed due to inaccuracies discovered during an internal audit.
Appearing on the Talking Points programme recently, Dr Wheatley said Cabinet had already approved the pension increases, but the payments were put on hold after officials identified errors in the calculations that needed to be corrected before the money could be released.
“First of all, let me apologise to the government retirees,” Premier Wheatley said.
The Premier explained that Cabinet approved the increase during its meeting last week, with the package valued at more than $6 million for higher pension payments for government retirees. However, he said the Financial Secretary subsequently advised that Internal Audit had reviewed the figures and found inaccuracies.
“The most important thing is that we don’t make a mistake and that we won’t be able to easily correct,” Dr Wheatley said. “We just have to ensure that whatever mistakes were made in terms of some of the calculations that were discovered by Internal Audit, that those are corrected so that those payments could be made as quickly as possible.”
Premier Wheatley said the government welcomed the audit process despite the delay, noting that it helped prevent further administrative problems before payments were issued.
He also reminded retirees that the funding for the increases had already been included in the 2026 budget, where his administration announced that pension payments for retired public officers would be increased after years without an adjustment.
The government has been under pressure for several years to improve pension payments for retired public officers, with legislators and other public officials arguing that many retirees have struggled to keep pace with inflation and rising living costs.
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All BS
it’s easier and cheaper to apologize than to address what you’re apologizing for.
Premier, you paid yourselves double…nearly triple and there was no delay or apologises.
Is an apology an admission of guilt?
Hear dis ya! The reason(s) being given by Dr. Hon Premier Natalio Wheatley, R-7, MoF, is barrel of spin , which is leaking like a sieve. The Premier’s may have let him down, putting him in an awkward and embarrassing situation. Should not people on the financial staff have check, double check, etc, the accuracy of basic numbers before sending to the MoF who in turn took the information to Cabinet for discussion and approval. Instead, the Premier has to lick tail between his legs , telling retirees that increases in their annuities will have to be delayed, for the numbers have inaccuracies. The Premier should be mad as hell that such a simple calculation was not caught in the review process before he received them. Inexcusable. This inexcusable delay has consequences on the quality of life of retirees. Cost of living is skyrocketing and retirees cannot take excuses to supermarket, to landlords, to banks , etc. Hopefully, the Premier kick some asses. If it were not so important and serious , it would be funny.
CUT THE NONSENSE MR. WHEATLEY AKA THEY SAY PREMIER, YOU HOLDING AND CONTROLLING THE MONEY BAG, YOU COULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THOSE PEOPLE THEIR MONEY. YOU ARE TO DAMN BADMINDED AND SPITEFUL. THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE HOLDING BACK THEIR MONEY IS THE ONES WHO PAVED THE WAY SO YOU COULD BE WHERE YOU ARE TODAY. STOP BEING SO DAMN UNGRATEFUL. IN MY BOOK YOUR APOLOGY DON’T MEAN A DAMN THING
NATTIE , IS SAYING)> I FULLY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT , I HONESTLY FORGOT YOU PENSIONERS AH CAN’T BLAME THE “WHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTERS ” THIS TIME , AH WAS ANALYZING WHAT MY “POPULAR” BUSINESS CONSULTANT SUGGESTED AND IT THREW ME COMPLETELY “OFF” BUT REST ASSURED I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN YOU ALL AND SOME TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE -I PROMISE TO DROP AH COUPLE AH CENTS ON ALL -YO OK , SO KEEP THE FAITH – MY PEOPLE •
A question. You all going to remember this or you all going to forget about this and put him and his party back in?