Dear Editor,
I have a relative by the name of Basmat Ramdeo who lives in Canada and she had applied to the NIS to receive her pension as a survival beneficiary since 2010. Her NIS no. is B-2339448. Ever since she applied to the NIS, she has been sending her life certificate to the NIS every 3 months. Some time in 2012 Mrs Ramdeo authorized me to check into her bank account and to let her know the balance of money from the NIS. The bank informed me that her bank balance is nil.
I then wrote to the General Manager at NIS around July 2012 explaining the situation. Since I did not get a response, I called the General Manager’s office on the 28th August and I explained the situation regarding Mrs Ramdeo. I was told by a lady that my letter had been received and I was advised to call the manager at the head office and I was given a number 225-3268.
I spoke to one Miss Pluck and she asked me to hold while she spoke to someone else. She got back to me and she said I would have to call back. She then took my number and said that she would call me. I called two days later since I did not hear from her. She said to hold on. She then told me to call Miss Browne at 225-2795 or 97. I called to talk to Miss Browne. Someone answered and said to hold. Sometime after, someone hung up the phone.
Editor, is it the pensioner who has to do all the checking from Miss Pluck for so many days then to Miss Browne and unto a dead end? Is this the system at the General Manager’s office for the pensioner to be sent on a wild goose chase and to be frustrated and in the end to give up? This system is good for the NIS but not for the pensioner. The system should be made to help the pensioner and not to frustrate him or her.
Editor, I think NIS should review its systems and to have it revised so as to reduce pensioners’ problems in the future.
Yours faithfully,
J Kadaru
Editor’s note: A copy of this letter is being sent to the NIS for any comment it might wish to make.