The Birth of the Old Age Pensions Law

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The Birth of the Old Age Pensions Law

By Earl Moxam, Jamaica Gleaner

March 1, 2004

At the sitting of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 25, 1945, Iris Collins, the Member for North West St. James, moved a motion calling for the introduction of an Old Age Pensions Law.

In moving the motion, Mrs. Collins pointed out that the Social Security Committee, having been set up under a previous administration (prior to the election of the new parliament under Universal Adult Suffrage in December, 1944) was late in presenting its report on a proposed pension scheme.

The introduction of an Old Age Pensions Law, she argued, would have far-reaching benefits.

In that regard, she asserted that the existing age limits of 70 and 75 years at which seniors became eligible for pensions were unacceptable and should be lowered to 60 years in the first instance, with the ultimate goal being 55.
This was particularly important, she said, "because the life limit in Jamaica is so very low if the census figures are of much value."

Urgently needed

Clifford Campbell, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) member for Western Westmoreland, agreed that the Old Age Pension Law was urgently needed. This mechanism, he said, was one "that makes adequate provision for those people who, through the stress and strain of life, will have to face at some time or the other, when health and strength fail them, the difficulties of living. This Old Age Pension Law would relieve their minds of those cares and burdens, which seem to press so heavily upon them."

And with a wry sense of humour, Mr. Campbell complained that in Jamaica "whenever we want to shelve anything of vital importance, we put it in the hands of a Committee!"

Alexander Bustamante also supported the motion "brought by our Honourable Lady Member."

In doing so, he acknowledged that "the Government only takes care of one section of the country the civil service."

That practice, he said, rested on the false premise that civil servants were the only ones to be looked after. Now it was recognised, he said, that "if anybody is entitled to the old age pension, it is chiefly those who belong to the most unfortunate section of this country, namely the masses (said to a chorus of 'hear, hear' from his colleagues.) They are the ones whose earnings are smaller than any."

Wendell Benjamin, People's National Party (PNP) Member for Southern Manchester, asserted that the merits of the call for old age pension were impatient of debate.

On the other hand, he said, the House needed to carefully examine how it would be financed. In that regard, he suggested that the recommended starting age be 'a little above' 55 years, pointing out that Barbados started at 70 years, after which it was reduced to 68.

In a rather sharp response, Iris Collins insisted that she never said the new pension regime should start with a lower limit of 55 years. That, she said, was the ultimate goal, but only after the regime got started with a limit of age 60.

With that, the motion was passed.