The Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) is deeply concerned about the suspension of WINDALCO's pensioners' health insurance benefits by the current owner of WINDALCO, UC RUSAL.

"Pensioners face a number of challenges stretching their incomes to cover their expenses," notes CCRP Chair, Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer, "they therefore place a high value on all financial promises made to them. One of the most difficult challenges is sourcing funds for medical care, especially when there is a major event such as stroke, heart attack or cancer."

Professor Eldemire-Shearer notes that the CCRP has written to the Company requesting a meeting with Managing Director Leonid Staviskiy. Copies of the correspondence have been sent to the Ministers of Labour and Social Security and of Mining, Energy & ICT; the Administrator General, the National Workers Union and the Executive Director of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute.

The CCRP Chair stresses: "When employers make a commitment that they will provide medical coverage to employees after they retire, employees view this as a commitment they can trust. Their financial planning is based on this promise. Furthermore, seeking an insurance alternative at this late stage in their lives is not possible, and few pensioners have enough savings to deal with a major medical event."

The Caribbean Community of Retired Persons was launched in April 2010, with the mission of “working to ensure that the vast talent, experience and wisdom of our seniors will be respected, and that they enjoy the quality of life, which they so richly deserve.”

Already boasting over 600 members from across Jamaica, the organization continues to be extremely proactive in serving as a vital resource for retired persons, as well as for those preparing for retirement.