The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell yesterday said the issue of pensions for World War II veterans is still under active review.

He further apologised to the living war veterans for the “avoidable confusion” over the arrangements for the annual Remembrance Day service at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday.

The Fox Hill MP addressed the issue during a short communication in the House of Assembly yesterday.

“I wish to respond to the complaints of the veterans about a lack of sensitivity and disrespect shown to them in connection with the protocol arrangement at the Cathedral and wider issues with their pensions,” Mr Mitchell said.

“I spoke at length with their representative on Sunday and indicated that at the first opportunity I would address this with the government. I did so and I am pleased to report that with regard to the issue of the shortfall in the monies for the pension this year, the government has agreed to make up the shortfall and agreement on the amounts owed.

“As national protocol arrangements come under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I offer my deep regret at the avoidable confusion over the arrangements for the church service and will seek to make amends by ensuring that greater sensitivity is exercised in the future.”

This week, The Tribune reported that veterans boycotted the annual Remembrance Day church service over a dispute about seating arrangements and their continued frustration with the government’s failure to raise their pension.

Cabinet ministers and members of the opposition party were among the many people in attendance for the special event.

However, notably absent from the front row benches in the church were the 20 living veterans registered with the British Legion’s Nassau Branch.

The men, who are between 87 and 95 years old, were reportedly told that as a group they could only bring 12 people.

This prompted them to deliver an ultimatum, saying that the limit on how many people they could bring should be lifted or they would not attend the event, reminding government of their service in the Second World War and the lives lost.

“Veterans would not have been able to bring some relatives with them and some of them need the aid for seating, two especially who are blind,” said Adina Munroe, a representative of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force who heads the group. “They need assistance for their travel. To tell them they could come but their relatives can’t was something they weren’t prepared to live with.”

She said the feeling of being slighted was exacerbated by the fact that the veterans have had no relief in their years-long battle to get a rise in their pension.

They are paid $11 a month.

In May 2014, veterans of the British Legion met with State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis to discuss a pension increase.

Ms Munroe told The Tribune at the time that Mr Halkitis responded positively to their concerns and said he would consult with his colleagues and respond to them later.