Weary of taxing trips to the capital, pensioners living in Lethem and surrounding communities are calling on the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to establish an office in the area.
Some pensioners from the area told this newspaper recently that they had not received their pension books this year. One pensioner said that an NIS Inspector was expected to visit Lethem to distribute pension books. The woman said that the establishment of an office in the area would ease inconveniences encountered when persons attempt to carry out financial transactions on their behalf at the NIS office in Brickdam, Georgetown .The pensioner said her son, who would normally transact business on her behalf in Georgetown, encountered a number of problems at the NIS office last month after she authorized him to uplift her pension.
Another resident told this newspaper that the officer who usually distributes pension books at
Lethem passed away late last year. He said complaints have been made in the past to the authorities at Lethem to remedy the situation by establishing an office in the area since, it is costly to travel to Georgetown by road or by air and some persons are physically unable to do so..
When contacted for a comment, NIS Public Relations Officer Diane Baxter –Lewis told Stabroek News that she was unaware of any problems pensioners in Region Nine are experiencing. But said pension books were last distributed to persons in the area during the last quarter of last year. She said an NIS inspector was currently at Lethem distributing pension books and will be in the area for one week. She explained that NIS pension books carry a six-month validity date. She also said that the regional administration assists with the delivery of pension books at the Lethem regional administration office while a courier service operated by Trans Guyana Airways assists in distribution as well.
As regards the establishment of an office in the region, Baxter-Lewis said that while she understands the inconveniences pensioners in the area may experience when they are forced to travel to Georgetown, consideration for the establishment of an office in the region falls under the purview of the Board of Directors. She said she had heard a proposal to that effect being mentioned but she was unaware of any plans the NIS board may have for the area. Baxter-Lewis said the NIS currently has an office in the Mabaruma sub-region and she plans to forward relevant information on the establishment of an office in the area to the NIS Board for consideration.
