Saudi pensioners and retirees are pinning their hope that their demands for privileges as senior citizens will be granted through the representation of the incoming officers and board members of the National Retirees Association (NRA) to be elected this October. “We have been working hard over the past few years to be able to enjoy our privileges as senior citizens, but so far nothing has been realized,” said Bidah Al-Gahtani, President of the National Retiree Association (NRA) in the Eastern Province. The NRA in Eastern Province held its general assembly last weekend to present the guidelines in holding the election. Retirees have been seeking a number of benefits and support programs from the government. These include increase in the minimum monthly pension to SR3,000 per month, exemptions of payment for visa's and passport fees, as well as Iqama and visa fees of their maids and drivers, discounts in all Saudi transportation facilities, including Saudi Arabian Airlines, Saudi Railway Organizations, and the Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company, etc. So far, none of these demands have been extended. “We are hoping that with the formation of a fresh national NRA body our grievances will be heard and granted,” Al-Gahtani told the Saudi Gazette. Pensioners and retirees from Eastern Province had only been given discounts from local establishments in the Eastern Province. Hassan Al-Nemer, the biggest gold retailers in the Kingdom, agreed to extend 50 percent discounts for all purchases of watches, gold, and diamonds by ID holding members of the association. Sahara Net, a leading Internet provider in the region, has also extended 15 percent discounts to retirees and pensioners from the region. There are about 1,500 retirees from Eastern Province, including about a hundred female retirees, with issued ID who are illegible to run for the national election. These demands have already been submitted to King Abdullah by the Minister of Interior, Prince Naif, who is the honorary chairman of the NRA, according to Al-Gahtani. The NRA will elect 13 officers and board members, including women retirees who are now eligible to run as candidates. Of the 13 elected, two will be designated as reserved directors to fill vacancies that may occur during the three-year term of the officers and board members. Only 11 will constitute the officers and board of director. The chosen 11 will elect a chairman, vice chairman and treasurer. The other remaining eight will sit as board members. Retirees aspiring to run for office must submit their certificate of candidacy Aug 2008. The national election will be scheduled after Ramadan, the exact date of which will be announced, Al-Gahtani said. Retirees who will run for election must be a bona fide, card-bearing member of NRA, active member for a minimum of one year, and meet the requirements which will be submitted to the NRA national headquarters in Riyadh. The requirements are (1) a written request for candidacy, (2) photocopy of NRA membership card valid at least until 1430H, (3) photocopy of Saudi ID card, and (4) brief summary of bio-data that includes educational attainment and the kind of job held during the year of retirement. Four retirees from Eastern Province, including one woman, qualified to run in the NRA election. __
