Introduction
Dr Roger Luncheon, Chairman of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and chief spokesperson for the Government is denying the reality of the parlous state of the NIS. His amazing comments and pretended reassurance that “the scheme is healthy… I intend to draw pension for a good lil while,” seems to be a reaction to the findings of the independent actuaries as contained in the Eighth Actuarial Report of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). By law, the NIS is subject to a five-yearly review by actuaries whose principal task is to determine whether the Scheme is operating on sound financial and actuarial bases and whether it provides adequate and affordable levels of income protection. Such reports invariably include recommendations on steps required, where necessary, to bring the Scheme back to viability, or where its assets and income far exceed its actual and actuarial liabilities, to reduce the over-funding by a reduction of rates.
This applies to all schemes – private and public – and the recommendations of the actuaries are taken seriously and acted upon promptly. Not so with the NIS under Dr Luncheon.
The responsibility for the failure to deal with the recommendations arising out of the 6th and 7th actuarial reports at December 31, 2001 and 2006 has been murky and confusing. In each of their annual reports since 2004 the directors have admitted to being “in the process of reviewing and implementing the recommendations.” So when Dr Luncheon tells the press that “The board was rather selective with regards to the recommendations