THE investigations by police into the alleged acts of intimidation and threats to officers from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) by businessman Omprakash Shivraj would proceed, subsequent to which action would be taken based on the results of that investigation.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, informed the press yesterday that he was reliably informed that such action would be taken once the investigations are done, and that an internal review of what transpired has already started at NIS.
Speaking at his post-Cabinet press briefing at Office of the President, Luncheon said meetings have also been held with the inspectors, management and the Board, and that there is a fairly good understanding about interventions that will be put in place to address the concerns raised.
Luncheon pointed out that the field officers act in defence of employees under the Social Sector Security Legislation when they are out in the field doing inspections, compliance and visitations.
“Those obligations in their discharge can, on the assumption that it faithfully captures what took place, expose members of the Scheme to different forms of abuse and pressures and intimidations, and the Scheme would be moving to put in place interventions to address those,” Luncheon remarked.
The NIS issued a press statement following alleged threats to its officers on Friday, July 22 last, by Shivraj and his employees. NIS said the officers were attempting to carry out official duties.
“An inspection team, headed  by Senior Inspector, Nicholas Yearwood; Inspectors Regan Baxter, Carolyn Peters and Leslie Allen, accompanied by driver Horace Richards, came under attack while visiting the construction site of Shivraj, also known as ‘Buddy’, at New Providence, East Bank Demerara, NIS stated.
“The officers were conducting routine exercises and visited the site to execute a ‘Full Compliance’ check,” NIS added.
The NIS officers impounded for inspection three wages records and time sheets, resulting in them being surrounded by Shivraj and several of his employees who prevented them from exiting the property.
Shivraj and his employees held the officers hostage, whilst using threats and force in demanding the return of the impounded documents which were forcefully wrenched from the hands of Inspector Regan Baxter, NIS reported in the statement.
The incident was later reported to the Providence Police Station.
NIS said it condemns in the strongest possible terms this brazen act of intimidation and threat to its officers by Shivraj and his employees.
“The Scheme calls on the authorities to deal with this matter urgently and mete out the most condign judgement on all those who were involved in, and are guilty of the perpetration of this criminal act.”
“The Scheme will also be instituting the appropriate action in accordance with the law,” the statement concluded.