Early Payment Promised For Christmas

Details

Economy

Tuesday, 18 December 2012 02:30

By Carol Williams

Antigua, St. John’s - After months of late payment, public servants have begun receiving wages and salaries for December and efforts are underway to pay Social Security pensioners before Christmas.

During the presentation of the 2013 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure on Monday, Finance & Economy Minister Harold Lovell announced that funds have already been issued to CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank and Scotiabank.

“We have been able to maintain regular and consistent payment with respect to the Government pensioners, and that is something we will ensure is never compromised,” he told the House of Representatives.

Lovell said efforts are underway to pay Social Security pensioners early, though they had already been notified they would not be paid before Christmas.

“Whatever it takes, that must not happen,” the Minister said, explaining the decision was taken after consultation with the Prime Minister.

“Those persons who have labored in the vineyards, who have done their time and paid their dues, we must ensure that whatever has to be done they must be paid before Christmas.”

The Minister thanked public servants who were previously paid late, stating he has no issue with the Antigua & Barbuda Union of Teachers which instructed its membership to stage sit-ins the week prior to the end of the school term over the failure of Government to pay their November salaries by December 6.

“All I can say, Madame Speaker, is to say sorry and beg pardon. I have no angst. I understand, but I would just ask that the report cards for the students (be done); that’s very important, and they may want to look at that,” Lovell said.

He added that Government will make every effort to meet its financial commitments and do so on time.

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