Dear Editor,
I had written several letters and expressed various opinions on this matter via social media, television, radio, and on my own Electric Mosque – Teachings of Islam show.
The theft of NIS has become an industry among employers in this nation. The theft of NIS by self-employed individuals is another form of money garnering for them. Of course, the employees, and even self-employed persons, when they realise they are not covered for various illnesses or old age dawns on them, having slowly crept up and unleashing itself on the reality of their psyche.
Obviously, the NIS will be affected financially and the cash flow can be stymied. No Government, since I started writing on this matter from the 80’s to now, has ever done a single thing to improve the situation.
I am writing again, to say the following:
1. The NIS Laws must be criminalised as it pertains to the theft of monies (NIS contributions) by the employer from the employee.
2. Serious jail for employers who do not register or see that their employees are registered for NIS or at least pay the sums upfront for the individual with their name and date of birth, until the registration takes place.
3. In the absence of laws in this country, as it pertains to the theft of NIS, other than civil action, the thief could be privately charged criminally and taken to court. This would send a rather serious message at the time, while laws are being put in place to criminalise this.
4. I know ministries that do not pay the sums of workers for NIS and sometimes it takes the lifetime of an employee for them to do that only when the claim is made.
5. I know one security service who for decades have stolen contributions and if the employee falls ill and makes a “hue and cry”, then they will give them some cash as hush money, this this dishonest service and others are able to get compliances for tenders for security services. Two such security groups have even declared bankruptcy and changed their names to avoid taxes and NIS.
I am hereby encouraging the Government of Guyana to move towards these suggestions and sit and watch the money pour in.
It is known that once the charge is instituted and they have to appear in court and are exposed, they try to settle. Civil settlement individually does not work. Sometimes the NIS tries to settle matters individually for decades and I don’t believe it ever worked.
Just another humble suggestion from yours truly.
Sincerely,
Roshan Khan
CEO/Founder
RK’s Security Services
