Pierre Lauds NIC Over Launch Of Its Golden Citizen Programme

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has lauded the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) over its Friday Golden Citizen Programme relaunch. According to the NIC, the programme aims to augment the its pension’s economic and purchasing power, mainly due to rising inflation. It started in 2004 under the then Director Emma Hippolyte. The NIC has partnered with the business community to provide pensioners with goods and services discounts. Prime Minister Pierre has encouraged Government pensioners to take advantage of the initiative through the Retired Persons’ Association. “To the 60+ businesses which have provided the discounts, thank you for supporting those who have served our country,” Pierre wrote on Facebook. He said the retired, elderly, and vulnerable groups remain a priority to his government. ” We recognize that global inflation acutely affects our pensioners, and we are proposing measures that will allow for increases in line with public servants during negotiations with unions. The NIC has already given a 4.2% increase to all of its pensioners, whilst we have given one-off payments of $500 and $600 in 2022 and 2023, respectively,” Pierre noted. “We will continue to be a government of compassion and provide support, particularly to the most vulnerable,” Pierre, Minister of...