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Netto: “Send the pensioners to the DSS”
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The controversy over the Minimum Income Guarantee shows little sign of going away.
Yesterday the Minister for Family, Youth & Community Affairs, Jaime Netto, released a copy to the press of a letter he sent opposition member Joe Bossano inviting him to redirect all enquirers to the DSS.
It is not clear if any of those enquirers visting GSLP headquarters went there after having tried the DSS for an explanation.
Full text of Mr Netto's letter
Dear Joe,
In the GSLP Press statement of the 3 August 2011, it states 'The Opposition has received numerous complaints from senior citizens with reduced levels of social insurance pensions who as a result qualify for the Minimum income Guarantee and have been paid a lower level of Minimum Income Guarantee for August that they had been getting up to July. They are now worse off financially as a result" [my emphasis].
Furthermore, in your recent Press Statement of the 8 August 2011, you state, "all the pensioners who have approached the opposition have made it clear that their income in July was the same as their income in August and that they have not been given any explanation (my emphasis) why the reduction from MIG for the month of August has been in many cases twice the amount of the increase in their Old Age Pension, leaving them with a lower income in August than they had in July and in previous months' [my emphasis].
Let me say that I find it odd that those "numerous" individuals who allegedly have gone to complain to the Opposition have not alternatively sought to come to the DSS for an explanation. I can tell you that many other elderly persons have done so and are now in a better position to understand how the procedure works, and why they are not worse off.
However, be that as it may, given that you say there are "numerous" people in search for an explanation, may I suggest you contact them once again for the purpose of allowing my staff at the DSS to arrange a suitable and independent meeting with each and every one of them for the purpose of giving them such an explanation. I would be grateful If you could provide names and contact numbers. These can then be e-mailed to dss@gibraltar.gov.gi
Finally, given that the GSLP has made this a public matter; I am releasing this letter to the Press.
Yours sincerely
Hon Netto
Minister for Family, Youth & Community Affairs
11-08-11
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