Former general manager of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and longtime advisor and contributor behind many of the agency’s social programmes and upgrades, Patrick Martinborough has died.
He was 72 years old.
He had served the NIS for 35 years, from 1988 to 2007, and although he retired would still return to give service as he conducted several administrative seminars and workshops.
An outpouring of praise came from the former NIS chairman Dr Roger Luncheon who remembered the tremendous contributions Martinborough made to the scheme. “Martin was a humble man, a very disciplined and competent general manager. Three things really stand out in describing him: competent strong and disciplined in the execution of his functions as general manager. He worked with such professionalism. He was the professional’s professional,” Luncheon told this newspaper.
Public Relations Officer of NIS Dianne Lewis-Baxter reflected on working with Martinborough over the course of her 25 years there.
“[His death] is a great loss to the scheme. He was a gentleman with a wealth of knowledge. When you think of it he was a social and economic statistician and although he wasn’t working with NIS… he still offered his services and advice.
“When we had training programmes… he was the person who facilitated those. He was an excellent teacher. I must say he was quite reserved, but very approachable. Mr Martinborough always offered advice,” she added.
The Office of the Leader of the Opposition put out a statement expressing condolences on the former NIS’ manager’s death.
“As the general manager in 1992 when the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) took office, he worked assiduously with the board headed by Dr Roger Luncheon to sustain steps to bring NIS policy and administration into the modern era,” the statement said.
“Mr Martinborough will always be remembered for his strong support for the PPP/C government’s successful efforts to transform the financial sector, particularly budgetary control and fiscal considerations during the early years of economic recovery in Guyana. Mr Martinborough will also be long remembered for his leadership qualities of integrity, humility, servility [sic] and loyalty in public office, inspiring generations of NIS staffers. The Office of the Leader of the Opposition extends its deepest condolence to the grieving survivors of the Martinborough family at this time of his passing. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”
Martinborough will be laid to rest next Thursday. He was widowed and had three daughters and two grandchildren.
