Dear Editor,
We need answers from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) regarding payments of senior citizens’ pension arrears for 2016. Constant checks with the Leonora Office have yielded no explanations, except the consolation that several people are still awaiting such arrears payments for last year’s minimum of twenty-five thousand dollars per month. Would the Chief Executive Officer or General Manager (acting) please say who made the decision not to have the arrears paid? How many people are affected? Is a particular category being targeted, and if not, are certain pensioners randomly selected? Should pensioners now forget about 2017 increase?
If none of the above applies, would ineptitude explain this?
Editor, I am sure the management has no clue what the four thousand dollars extra monthly income means for someone, particularly those without any other source of income, not to mention those depending on the ‘widow’s mite’, that is, survivor’s benefit.
While I am at it, I implore the media to monitor the situation from February 6, 2017, when regular pensions are paid, to observe the reaction of the National Insurance Scheme to the recent Pouderoyen NIS office heist of over six million dollars.
Although armed security is in the compound and the office building, everyone is searched and scanned at the gate. If you can still ride your bicycle, it has to be left outside the compound unprotected. Rumour has it that wheelchairs and crutches will also have to be so left.
In typical Guyana style, the poor pensioners will now have to pay the price. Since the major crime unit did not promptly take over that matter, we know it would be accounted for as part of “other losses” at the end-of-year NIS report, while those involved now have another weapon and lots of cash to continue their merry ways.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
