SEVERAL vendors from New Amsterdam Municipal Market, in Berbice, shared different fates when they were taken before Magistrate Roby Benn, on Tuesday, accused of failing to produce relevant documentation to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

The defendants’ appearance at New Amsterdam Court followed a routine check by inspectors from the agency last February 18.
Waveney August, whose age is 53 and owns stalls B 68, 69,75 and 76, told the magistrate that, in addition to being a mother of five and grandmother of 10, she is already old and could ill afford to make the required 750 NIS contributions.
Another seller, Viola Persaud, who vends at stall number 129, said she plies her trade twice weekly as she is diabetic, hypertensive and has a heart condition but has no record of her income.
Subsequent to their explanations, August and Persaud were fined $5,000 with the alternative of one week imprisonment.
However, appearing as a friend of the court, attorney-at-law Ms. Carolyn Artiga pointed out that most market traders do not keep receipts of their purchases.
Their obligations
“They are ignorant of what they have to do,” she stated, adding that the NIS should inform them of their obligations.
Interjecting, Magistrate Benn said he understood the social aspect, based on the vendors’ course of work but, although they do not have a book per se, they must keep records, as the NIS plays a big part in the Guyanese populace.
He agreed that it is the Guyana Revenue Authority which should be involved, so as to guide the defaulters with respect to recording their incomes and expenditures.
Another defendant, Sabrina Parasram told the Court she would assist her husband at his stall, while Lois Amsterdam claimed she made repeated visits to the  NIS local office in an effort to meet an inspector but had been unsuccessful.
Both she and Amsterdam were released on their own recognisances and are to return to court on July 19.
Forty-eight-year-old Lilawattie Bisram, from stall number 8, confessed that she had not previously been an NIS contributor but has since become registered.
Kitty Kumar Somai, 51, of stall number 10, said he was unemployed for 18 months and his explanation is to be investigated.
But Bisram and others were  reprimanded and discharged.
Earlier, NIS Inspector Julian Caesar had related that, during the February 18 visit, the vendors failed to present receipts and other documents for examination when required to do so by Inspector Rebecca Ramolos, who is duly authorised and they had, therefore, breached a section of the NIS Act.