Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/1652/-1/135/
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SOCIAL SECURITY IN ANGUILLA Olive Qualifies For Pension
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Anguilla Drugstore Owner/Manager, Olive Hodge, MBE, has qualified for pension under the island’s Social Security system having reached the age of 65 on March 9 and having been a faithful contributor to the fund.
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Olive Hodge with son Timothy, Ministers of Government and Social Security personnel
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In a touching ceremony, on Monday, April 5, during which she was presented with her first handsome pension cheque, her son, Timothy Hodge, Director of Social Security, commented: “It is particularly a pleasure for me because it was not easy – as all of you would attest – to set up a social security system on Anguilla and my mother was very supportive of me and prepared me for such a task in bringing me up. She has been a source of inspiration to me, my family and to the people in Anguilla in general.
“Another good thing about my mother that I very much recognise, is that she ensured that all six of her children went to High School before she did her full-time day’s work for pay…When she did, she went straight to the top, managing the Anguilla Drug Store which is a very successful institution and which has always paid its social security contributions so as to comply with the laws of the land and to ensure that its workers are protected. Hopefully all employers in Anguilla will recognise that it is their responsibility to do so as well.”
Chairman of the Social Security Board, Marcel Fahie, said the occasion emphasised to the public the role social security plays in providing a flow of income for older and retired persons.
Mr. Fahie continued: “It is particularly noteworthy that Mrs. Hodge, as Owner/Manager at the Anguilla Drug Store, voluntarily chose to be a registered contributor to the system. That is so because under the rules it is not compulsory for owners/managers to contribute to social security. I think she is one of the first, if not the first, owner/manager to decide to participate in social security.
“It is a testimony to the fact, not just because her son Tim was the first employee and ultimately the Director of Social Security, but I think she recognised the value of an age pension when one is no longer active to work…Another interesting point is that the Father of Social Security in Anguilla, James Ronald Webster, is your brother …and you as an individual, saw the benefit of social security at a time when we had to show the public of Anguilla, through practice, that it was a system that could only bring benefit to the people of Anguilla.”
Minister for Social Security, Victor Banks, said it was only recently that self-employed persons were being encouraged to be involved in social security. He pointed out that they were now realising that they could benefit from the system when they were not necessarily old people.
Mr. Banks praised Mr. Webster for his vision and said it was a happy occasion to witness the culmination of what was a lot of hard work to sell the issue of social security to the people of Anguilla. He commended Mrs. Hodge on her involvement in the system and offered her his very best wishes.
Replying, Mrs. Hodge rejoiced that at 65 she was in good health and felt young and active. “I must thank you all for coming and being here to share in this momentous occasion,” she said. “I have been telling friends of mine, who are self-employed, to pay social security because I am looking forward to mine and I know that they too can benefit.”
After the presentation of the cheque to his mother, Timothy Hodge, in a loving embrace, presented her with his own belated birthday gift. “This is from me personally,” he told her. But for Mrs. Hodge, she will be the recipient of many cheques – probably in the range of two thousand dollars in pension every two weeks. Add it all up over a period of years, and she will really be seen as a triumphant contributor to the island’s social security system.
Timothy Hodge presents pension cheque to his mother
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