Behind every Clico EFPA policy is a human being, one with needs, friends, fears, family, anxieties, frustrations and every other emotion shared by all of mankind. Apparently, the Government seemed to have forgotten that. Counted amongst them are the many supporters of this Government, who I'm sure today are regretting the fact that they voted for the People's Partnership.Not one of them is JUST a policy number and should not be treated like a mere statistic! It has been about eight months since policyholders benefits under the EFPA were stopped because of so-called "ghosts" accounts. Shouldn't there be transparency where this matter is concerned? To date one wonders if those accounts were ever found and it appears that it was a clever ruse to deny policyholders their benefits. Many EFPA policyholders have themselves become ghosts as quite a few have passed away-some due to stress others due to unavailability of funds for medical needs. The policyholders, whose life savings were undoubtedly used to acquire many of CL Financial's prized assets, can't help but feel CHEATED of their financial security!
Two of those assets, for example, Republic Bank shares and Methanol Holdings continue to reap large returns for whoever controls the "CL vault." Many CL financial companies continue to run unaffected: workers go to work, get paid and enjoy their salaries with their families. No one is told that their salaries would be structured over 20 years, yet the policyholders whose monies were used to purchase these same companies would have to suffer at the hands of an unbending, uncaring Government. I wonder if the Government would consider giving those EFPA policyholders, 65 years and older, state pension. Alas I jest, knowing the answer to this question already. It's interesting to note that many social programmes have been flaunted in the public by the Government's propaganda machine, yet the suffering of EFPA retirees at the hands of the state go unnoticed or rather ignored!
Andy Jangeesingh
Via E-mail