Pensioners cannot cope

Pensioners do not begrudge what others deserve but could not help lamenting their own misfortune. Every time they learn of increases in the incomes of MPs, or of members of the judiciary and, not least, those of civil servants, they are reminded of the insignificance of pensioners in a world dominated by human manipulators.

Air Malta pilots and the police too were not forgotten but the pensioners were again left out.

Perhaps inadvertently, governments have been punishing those whose work had augmented the educational and economic progress of this island since the mid-1920s. Previous to this era, most nonagenarians have since died in relative poverty. The pension rates of resilient survivors, pinned to banal administrative decisions, have over the years lost their worth. Inflation has nibbled at their real value.

The miserly cost-of-living pension increase grudgingly given annually after numerous debates, never made up for the higher prices of everyday needs. To rub a sore wound, the obnoxious prices of expensive medicines have long been deleted from the government’s health scheme.

In short, pensioners cannot cope with the necessities of home life and with all the expenses it entails, ranging from rent and fuel to groceries. Long have they done away with luxuries.

No wonder many pensioners have sought the comfort of free hospital beds, or the security of old people’s homes, creating problems for short-sighted administrations.

In keeping with so many promises since the 1990s, pensions should have been raised regularly to two-thirds of salaries. These promises were never fulfilled. Instead many pensioners have been burdened with a range of taxes.

Some pensioners have had a particularly bitter experience. In 2007-2008 they invested in a cheap second-hand car. They paid for and personally imported these cars from England, where tax and registration fees had been paid.

Little did they realise that the Finance Ministry would punish them with a tax of €11,500. Their complaints hit a brick wall. They obtained no satisfaction. Of course, the ministry’s revenue of €50 million was too precious to be conferred on pensioners!

Like so many electors (18,000?) who suffered this injustice (proved in court) the aggrieved persons, including pensioners, are still hoping for a definite promise that the ministry will return the extorted money. That promise will hold the balance of power at the general election.