Opposition “manufactured controversy” about Jagdeo’s pension – Dr Singh

… says their attempts aim to sully the former
president’s legacy

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has exposed attempts once again by the combined opposition to peddle misinformation while distorting facts surrounding the benefits and pension that former presidents are entitled to under the laws of the country.

Dr Singh in a passionate presentation to the 65-seat National Assembly on Thursday, argued that the opposition was also seeking to “manufacture controversy” surrounding the issue with the aim of scoring cheap political points.
He believed strongly that the opposition motion on Former Presidents Pension and Benefits tabled by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Carl Greenidge was aimed at attacking the legacy of former President Bharrat Jagdeo.
“Let there be no doubt, this was an attempt to sully the track record and reputation of a distinguished Guyanese son, who rose to the highest office in the land and who served as Guyana’s longest serving president and served the country, the region and globally with distinction,” Dr Singh articulated.
He was convinced that the opposition was seeking to roll out a ploy of envy and jealousy while making clear their intentions to utilise the Parliament to get revenge against Jagdeo because of his outstanding stewardship of the Guyanese economy.
“This motion is fundamentally flawed… ill conceived and poorly constructed,” Dr Singh advised, noting that it is riddled with innuendoes since the issue of former presidents’ pensions and benefits became as contentious as it is because of deliberate misrepresentation and distortions by opposition opportunists.
The finance minister also noted that many of the opposition’s arguments were misinformed and not grounded in any facts, as he reminded them that the Former Presidents Pension and Benefits Bill was part of a series of legislations brought to the Parliament by ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C).
He disclosed that before the move to Parliament, several former presidents were receiving benefits and facilities in the absence of the legislation on a discretionary basis, and at the mercy of what he called “administrative fiat”. Singh said that the pension and benefits that Jagdeo is receiving is nothing new or significantly dissimilar to the services extended to former presidents, their widows or spouses and the leader of the opposition.
He said that both the computation of the value of his pension package and benefits were enshrined in law by the 2004 act, which requires that the incumbent president receive seven-eighths of his salary as his pension.
“Let there be no doubt that former presidents had long before, this 2009 act came as a bill… been in receipt of benefits and facilities referred to in this act,” he said.

“We also know of former presidents who continued to receive after they demitted presidential office, security at their homes… medical care and attention, personal and household staff, security… transportation and duty-free concessions,” the finance minister said, as he squared-off with opposition MPs.
The finance minister said that the government should have been commended for bringing the legislation to Parliament to show respect and safeguard the gains and benefits of persons who served the country at the highest levels.