Dear Editor,
Numerous residents of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are frustrated and disappointed with the performance of the NIS in the Region. After working for decades, during which they contributed to the scheme, they are disillusioned and grieving due to the fact that they are not being paid a due pension by NIS, as expected.
NIS is a mandatory insurance scheme for employees that collect contributions until a worker is qualified to receive benefits, usually after 60. However, while some get their due benefits, others experience a nightmare through no fault of theirs. In most cases, it is due to bungling and improper/inaccurate record keeping by NIS. Many retired persons are being taken advantage of and are helpless when it comes to getting redress. Officers at NIS know this and they just give these people a run around—form regional NIS office to Georgetown headquarters, and back over and over. Some think that they will die before any justice is served. Many complaints have been received from short-changed retirees who cannot afford a lawyer to represent them. A few will suffice here as examples:
A widow from Anna Regina (name and documents supplied) worked continuously for 21 years as a security guard and made over 926 NIS contributions. However, she was given a grant of 6,868 for only 386 contributions in March 2011. This was because 540 contributions were not located by NIS. Subsequently, when NIS discovered the 540 additional contributions she was offered another grant.
This procedure was wrong and should be redressed. One cannot be given two separate grants for over 750 contributions because NIS could not find a part of the contributions.
Instead of two separate grants the contributions of 386 and 540 (926 in total) should be combined and she should be given a monthly pension by NIS. NIS refused to combine the contributions and the matter is in the hands of a top lawyer.
Another person worked for over 20 years at Guyana Rice Board (GRB), all the time contributing to NIS, and has been given a pittance, a one-time grant of 8. He was told by an NIS inspector to get two persons who can testify that he worked for that time. This is hearsay evidence that NIS wants, but ignores Records of Service from past employers, saying that they have to further investigate.
There are others who receive grants of 00 and similar amounts, people who have worked over 15 years and contributed to the scheme. When they object, they are told to take the grant, which tantamount to acceptance, then appeal.
In my own case they have contributions for before I started to work, when I was in high school and after I stopped contributing in 2015. In between the contributions fluctuate drastically, even though I taught full-time over the years.
The NIS needs to be better equipped. At the Anna Regina Branch, people are sent back to make copies of documents because they do not have a photocopier which costs less than ,000.
So, one wonders, where are the contributions going?
NIS also needs to be revamped and upgraded with new transformational leaders with best practices. This nightmare does not exist in other countries where employees contribute to Social Security. People need to be better served by NIS and received what is due to them, without hassle, in their golden years when they deserve a good quality of life and peace of mind.
Regards,
Karan Chand
