Dear Editor,
We are grateful if you can publish our grave concerns affecting all NIS pensioners. Ever since the political directorate installed the NIS Board of Directors in 2020 there has been a freeze in NIS pensioners’ increase which is unprecedented since the establishment of NIS in 1969. Given the mountain of increases in the cost of living that all and sundry have been witnessing around us, perpetuated either by a global or localized scenarios, a lot of pensioners now cannot cope or a lot of them are suffering.
The N.I.S Board/Gov’t should desist from any further neglect or exploitation of NIS pensioners because a number of them are agitating for their increased benefit and compensation. The current Board of Directors does not have a clue of managing the affairs of NIS and to enhance the social security and enhance benefits to the nation’s seniors citizen (60 years +) as distinct how the govt would select citizens 65 year plus for grants etc. It should be noted a senior citizen can their only be categorized as such after having attained 60 years.
We believe the gov’t should urgently dismantle the NIS Board of Directors and replace same with a more professional results oriented board to advance the investment interest of NIS funds locally and internationally with the Chairman being a senior citizen himself; with internationally renowned investment experience if possible from the diaspora. We have been hearing around the Caribbean the demand for reparatory compensation for the descendants of slaves which all Guyanese should support; by the same breath NIS pensioners are now seeking reparative justice to right the wrongs that they have endured so far.
We sincerely trust the govt/cabinet is not oblivious to the needs of NIS pensioners and have empathy for their just cause. We believe the earnings from the oil wealth can be apportioned to give all NIS pensioners a reasonable compensation package deposited into their NIS account for equitable disbursement in addition to $5000.00 increase across the board on their monthly pension.
This should be a firm humanitarian and goodwill gesture as this is their only hope and only means of benefitting from the oil wealth.
Sincerely,
(Names and Addresses Withheld)
