As a retiree, my budget expectations are not simply about having more money in my pocket. They are about quality of life and the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the savings and investments I worked hard to accumulate will not be steadily eroded by rising costs.
As pensioners, we also need to know that the Old Age Pension is sufficient to help us live with dignity. The current pension of $3,000 per month is increasingly difficult to stretch as the cost of food, utilities, transportation, healthcare and other necessities continues to rise. I would like to see the Old Age Pension increased to at least $3,500 per month. This would be a meaningful and practical step toward giving our senior citizens greater financial security.
I also want to know that when medical services are needed, they will be readily available, efficient and effective, and that the pharmaceuticals required will be available when we need them. Nobody should reach their later years having to worry about whether they can obtain the medication or medical care necessary to maintain their quality of life.
Safety is another major concern. Pensioners should be able to move about, shop, attend appointments and enjoy their communities without constantly worrying about becoming victims of crime and criminality. Security is not a luxury for the elderly; it is an essential part of quality of life.
Government services for the aged and elderly must also be efficient, effective and delivered with respect. Senior citizens should not have to spend hours standing in lines, being passed from office to office or struggling with complicated procedures simply to access services to which they are entitled.
Our elderly citizens have spent decades contributing to the development of Trinidad and Tobago. In retirement, we should not be asking for special treatment. We are asking for security, dignity, respect and a reasonable quality of life.
The true measure of a country is not only how well it performs economically, but how it treats those who helped build it.
That is what I would like to see reflected in the national budget.
Gordon Laughlin,
Westmoorings
