PUBLIC Utilities Minister Barry Padarath says priority is being given to settling outstanding payments owed to former TSTT/TELCO employees, who last month wrote to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar seeking intervention.

The Committee of Concerned TELCO/TSTT Pensioners (CCTTP) had written to Persad-Bissessar appealing for payment, saying that the situation is a 'crisis', as some pensioners were facing health issues and in need of their money.

The letter from the group secretary, Anthony Zephyrine, said that 'for more than 15 years, many TELCO/TSTT pensioners have sought a fair and equitable resolution to the issue of improved pension benefits'.