Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhicasookraj@guardian.co.tt
As budget day approaches, some pensioners are calling for more financial support as rising living costs force some to choose between food and medicine.
For 78-year-old Suresh Adheen, a pensioner from La Romaine, the struggle to balance his monthly expenses has become worrisome. “My pension is just not enough,” he said, adding, “The cost of food, the cost of medicine, the cost of transport—everything keeps rising every single day.”
Adheen said that while he once enjoyed small comforts, he has now started cutting back, even on staples such as rice. “Rice went from $40 to $59.95 a bag,” he explained. “When you go to another supermarket, it might be $60.25. These are not stories people tell me—I see it with my own eyes.”
He said that after paying bills and medication expenses, there is little left to survive on. “When I finish paying bills, I have to go around comparing prices for my medication,” he said. “Some pharmacies tell me the price is too high for them to bring it in. I’m caught between those situations.”
Adheen said pensioners like him are being forced to make tough choices. “If the groceries cost too much this month, I cut back. I pull back the money and put it where it’s needed more—usually medicine,” he said. “That’s not how someone who worked all his life should live.”
He believes Government must act in this year’s Budget. “Pensions should be increased,” he said. “If they can’t increase it by ten per cent, then at least eight or nine—something fair across the board. That would give us a little ease to move forward.”
He added that many families depend on pensions for survival. “Sometimes our parents’ or grandparents’ pension is what supports entire families,” he said. “Imagine a single mother or father paying for school fees, travel, food, and medication. That pension money stretches far—but it’s not stretching enough anymore.”
For Adheen, retirement was supposed to bring peace, not anxiety. “A person who is retired is supposed to enjoy life,” he said softly. “He shouldn’t have to think twice about paying for transport or buying an ice cream or wonder if there will be food ready when he gets home.”
At Valini’s Drug Mart, pharmacist and owner Valmiki Ramnarine said he sees that struggle play out daily. “They can’t survive,” he said bluntly. “They cannot buy medication and food. The rising cost of pharmaceuticals is outstripping food prices.”
Ramnarine commended Government for expanding the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP) to include five additional essential medications. “It’s a positive move because these were drugs that pensioners needed most and were paying out of pocket for,” he said. “But even with that, the financial strain remains.”
He said Government must also encourage the use of quality generic medicines. “As pharmacists, we offer good generics at one-tenth the price,” he said. “That’s where the country needs to go—to stop the bleeding of foreign exchange and make medicines affordable for all.”
Supermarket owner Raj Roopnarine, who operates Raj Minimart on Sutton Street, agreed that pensioners are among the hardest hit by inflation. “When customers reach the counter, they realise they don’t have enough money and start removing items off their list,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking to see elderly people choosing between bread and milk.”
He said prices for basic items have skyrocketed. “Corned beef is now over $25, peanut butter is near 40,” Roopnarine said. “Some older customers come with a fixed amount in their pocket—$70 or $80—and try to make that work for the whole week. It’s impossible.”
Taxi driver Sherwin Clarke from Point Fortin said he has seen the toll the economic squeeze is taking.
“Pension is just too small,” he said. “Sometimes people are just under pressure. I saw a man the other day, short by three or four dollars at the grocery. I helped him out, but not everyone has that kind of help.”
However, economist Dr Indera Sagewan warned that while pensioners deserve assistance, Government must tread carefully.
“Inflation has eroded the spending power of individuals, and pensioners have been among the hardest hit,” she said.
“But we also have to be realistic about what the country can afford.”
Sagewan said that increasing pensions would significantly raise government expenditure at a time when fiscal space remains tight.
“It’s a substantial cost, and every increase adds up,” she said. “If funds are redirected here, they must be taken from somewhere else—education, health, infrastructure—it’s all a balancing act.”
She suggested that Government, instead, focus on targeted relief. “Expanding programmes like CDAP, improving access to affordable medication, and ramping up domestic food production could all reduce the cost of living without adding to expenditure,” she said.
Sagewan said such measures could provide “real relief” while maintaining economic stability.
“If we can produce more food locally and ensure a reliable supply, prices will stabilise. That helps everyone, especially those on fixed incomes,” she said.
She also urged patience as the new administration settles in. “We need to give the Government a little time to redirect opportunities and resources,” she said. “Maybe if not in this budget, then the next one. The Minister of Finance must weigh all the options and avoid ballooning expenditure.”
Sagewan added that growing the economy should be the main priority. “The focus should now be on increasing revenue, attracting investment, and creating jobs—not simply responding to every demand,” she said.
“If we fail to do that, we’ll end up criticising the Government later for overspending and under-delivering.”
