Georgetown : Permanent Secretary at the Office of the President Dr. Nanda Gopaul said statements made by Alliance for Change (AFC) Presidential Candidate Khemraj Rammjattan about “First lady Pension entitlement” are a misconception.
Speaking to members of the media, Dr. Gopaul rehashed the letter he sent to the editor of the Kaieteur News published on November 13 in response to an article titled Vashnie Singh entitled to “First Lady’s pension” where Ramjattan was quoted.
“Mr. Ramjattan got it all wrong…it is not for a wife of a President or First Lady… had he read the Act, he would have seen that a widow’s pension is paid only to that widow on the death of her husband,” Dr. Gopaul said.
The Permanent Secretary also presented copies of the correspondence sent to Kaieteur News detailing the size of the pension sum given to former Presidents Arthur Chung, Desmond Hoyte and their widows and Mrs. Janet Jagan.
Copies of the President Hoyte Pension Act 2009 which makes provision for enhanced pension to the widow of the late President from the date when the widow’s pension was first payable were also presented.
“Widow’s pension is payable and it is calculated at 50 percent of the President’s pension,” Dr. Gopaul said.
The last pension paid to former President Chung was in June 2008. He received $1,085,427 and his widow received $542,714 up to August 2009. Up to November 2010, Mrs. Hoyte received $543,543.
Dr. Gopaul explained that other benefits and entitlements given to the former first ladies’ included driver, medical and utility expenses and duty free concessions.
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