FIFTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD Surendralall, an employee of RK’s Security Service for the past four years, is peeved over the treatment meted out to him, allegedly by staff of the company’s Head Office in Georgetown, over a recent claim for National Insurance Scheme (NIS) sickness benefit.

The armed guard, who is posted at a foreigner’s residence in Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam, Berbice, said he also served as a supervisor under RK’s Regional Contract with the Government from 2009 to 2012.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that, back in 2010, he had an eye surgery and was given 30 days sick leave to recuperate, by a doctor at New Amsterdam Hospital and claims were, subsequently, sent to RK’s Head Office for the necessary processing before being forwarded to the NIS.
But, to date, he is yet to receive any payment.
Surendralall related that, on October 3, this year, he took ill and was hospitalised for 11 days and upon his discharge, he prepared a claim.
“On October 17, I took my NIS claim to the RK’s Office in New Amsterdam and handed it over to the Area Manager who forwarded it to the Georgetown Office. After I did not receive any response, I decided to investigate and found out that my claim never got to the NIS, as a result of a lapse by the personnel responsible for addressing such matters,” he complained.
The guard alleged that the New Amsterdam Area Manager was apprised of the situation and she made a call to the Georgetown authorities and was told that, when workers are close to the age of 60, they are not entitled to NIS benefits.
“This is preposterous and I find that very difficult to believe, although I am not au fait with the NIS laws,” he declared.
FEARFUL

Surendralall, who will celebrate his 60th birthday on January 3, 2014, is fearful that, once again, he may not be able to receive any form of compensation from the NIS due to the lackadaisical conduct of the staff at RK’s Headquarters.
“I even called the General Manager and he promised to look into the matter but it seems as though no one is interested in the welfare of workers because I have not heard from him since,” he lamented.
The guard is appealing to the management of RK’s Security Service to pay attention to the plight of the company’s ‘foot soldiers’.
Meanwhile, in an invited comment, RK’s Area Manager, Ms. Amelia Roopnarain told this newspaper that the matter is out of her hands, since all claims are, usually, sent to RK’s Headquarters to be processed.
“I did my part and I don’t know what happened in Georgetown. I can’t do anything because NIS deductions and contributions are done there. We have a representative there who is tasked with such (NIS) matters. I really can’t explain the reason for such procrastination,” she maintained.
Surendralall said, as he approaches his 60th birth anniversary, he anticipates victimization and as such decided to involve the media in a situation that has plagued him twice over the past three years.

When contacted yesterday afternoon, CEO of RK Security Inc; Mr Roshan Khan dismissed the allegation as “utter rubbish”.

Mr Khan even challenged the disgruntled employee, the NIS and the Chronicle to visit the company’s head-office in Georgetown to have a first-hand look at its “impeccable records”.

“Come check my records, we are always on the ball, 100 per cent of the time….if there is any problem, then it has to do with the inconsistencies of NIS in maintaining their records,” Mr Khan declared.

“My name, honour and reputation are on stake…and on the fact that all my employees are fully covered (by NIS),” Khan said.

He maintained that the NIS offices in New Amsterdam and in Georgetown are both in “a terrible state of confusion”, especially as it relate to record keeping.
In a subsequent telephone call to this newspaper yesterday afternoon, Mr Khan said he had just learnt that Mr Surendralall’s NIS claim is somewhere in the system being processed.
Written By Michael Khan