The Government is to launch a platform in the coming months that will simplify proof of life verification for all government pensioners.
At present, the pensioners are required to submit a Life Certificate once every quarter to continue receiving their money.
Life certificates must be stamped and signed by a justice of the peace (JP), notary public, minister of religion, medical practitioner, school principal, bank manager, parish councillor, town clerk or a civil servant at the equivalent grade of GMG/SEG1 or higher, stating post and ministry or department.
Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Information, Skills and Digital Transformation, Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, said transforming the current process is critical to improving efficiency.
“I’m pleased to tell you that just last week or the week before I had a demo of a system that we want to deploy in short order with the Ministry of Labour [and Social Security] that will allow our citizens to be able to verify they are alive from their phone and not needing to go searching for a JP and then having to take these forms in,” she said.
Dr. Morris Dixon was addressing Friday’s (October 25) sitting of the Senate at Gordon House, where she rose to support a motion calling for specific legislation in the form of an Elderly Care and Protection Act.
“This is not something that we want our elderly to be having to worry about every three months – that is very, very frequent. The demo went really well. It was very simple. The only issue I had was that the font is too small, because if I can’t read it, then maybe they will also have an issue,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.
The senate has approved a motion to formulate the Elderly Care and Protection Act, to safeguard Jamaica’s senior citizens.
Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Aubyn Hill, advised that during the next sitting of the Upper House, he will propose the appointment of a Special Select Committee to consider the motion.
The committee will be chaired by Government Senator, Sherine Golding Campbell, and include colleague members – Charles Sinclair, Dr. Sapphire Longmore and Kavan Gayle.
The Opposition members are – Gabriela Morris, Sophia Fraser-Binns and Professor Floyd Morris.
The motion, moved by Professor Morris, was supported by several members of the Senate.
Senator Golding Campbell suggested that two critical components be considered, in addition to the matters that would ordinarily be included in such a legislation. These are a living will, and a lasting or durable power of attorney.
“The living will operates in such a way as to allow an elder to make medical decisions about their health, in the event that they become incapacitated. So, it is set out in a document, whether I want you to put me on life support, keep me on life support [and] whether you want me to perform surgery or not. It allows the person the ability to determine the dignity of how they transition,” she explained.
Regarding the second consideration, Senator Golding Campbell said a lasting or durable power of attorney can provide for medical and health related instructions, as well as the management of the financial affairs and assets of the elderly.
“What we have now [is], where… power of attorney is revoked essentially by the mental incapacity of the person who granted the power, a lasting and durable power of attorney would provide for that grant of power to continue beyond that point, and it can be a temporary or permanent grant of power,” she pointed out.
Senator Golding Campbell added that these instruments, if properly thought out and enshrined in legislation, would allow senior citizens, when they are in good health, to make a determination about their future.
“I wish for our elders to have a legal framework that helps them to better manage their twilight years,” she stated.
Source: JIS