PPP says pensioners will only get a mere $300 increase based on the consideration of the estimates

jagdeoinparliament-e1439835420150Georgetown : The People's Progressive Party (PPP) this afternoon calls on the David Granger Administration to provide a proper explanation on the inadequate budgetary allocations for the proposed increase in Old Age Pension, which was discovered during Consideration of the Estimates.

The Party pointed out that in 2014, the PPP/C Administration spent $7,895,554,000 to benefit approximately 43,500 pensioners  and almost 10,000 persons on Public Assistance.

However, in 2015 the Granger Administration,  with its announced increases in Old Age Pension to $17,000, has only allocated $8, 085,442,000, approximately $190 Million increase over 2014, to finance this increase for the period  September to December 2015.

Approximately $675 Million would be required, $485 Million more than what is budgeted for 2015.

A simple crunching of the numbers will show that based on the increased sums allocated in the 2015 Budget, Old Age Pensioner in real terms, will only benefit from a $300 increase monthly.

The opposition party now says that this is an act of deception by the Granger Administration is a flagrant betrayal of Guyana, more particularly our senior citizens.

 The APNU+AFC promises on the campaign trail were purely to hoodwink Guyanese into voting for the coalition.

The PPP will continue to hold the APNU+AFC Government  accountable.