Elderly pensioners have travelled to town to collect their one-off $300 payment which the Government announced as part of its coronavirus (COVID-19) economic relief package.

The pensions are included in the Government’s ‘community-scope’ stimulus package which was unveiled in Parliament earlier this month. Pensioners would normally receive a monthly pension worth T$145.

Tents were set up in front of the Accident and Compensation Board (A.C.B.) Building on Monday to cater for the elderly citizens, some of them assisted by their relatives to walk up to the tents.

It is understood the tents were set up to better coordinate the movement of people into and out of the A.C.B. Building.

A pensioner and former Policeman, Tuamasaga A’ana, of Sataoa, thanked the Government for the one-off payment.

“I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the Government for this huge assistance and for looking after our country,” he told Samoa Observer in an interview.

“For me, I will use this for my family in buying essentials such as food so this is a really great assistance for me and my family, and again I thank the Government for it.”

Mr. A’ana began his career in the Samoa Police Service in 1973 before his retirement and travelled to town on Monday fully decked in his Police uniform.

Another pensioner, Seila Lokeni, of Samatau, echoed similar sentiments and said the one-off T$300 payment is timely as it will assist his family in these difficult times.

“I would like to thank the Prime Minister for this great assistance and to the churches here in Samoa. This will help my family greatly,” he added. 

“My family brought me here in the car and it’s great to see the work that the staff are doing here. Tents are put outside for the public to use since it’s a sunny day and there are many people awaiting their turn to enter the building.”