Dear Editor
KINDLY permit me space in the letter column of your widely read newspaper to publish this my letter, which is of great importance to all National Insurance Scheme pensioners.According to the National Insurance and Security Act, Chapter 36:01 of 1969 of the Laws of Guyana as amended, the minimum Old Age Pension payable to NIS pensioners should not be less than 50 per cent of the national minimum wage payable to public servants.
The minimum wage payable to all public servants is now $55,000 per month, this represents an increase of $5,000 per month over that which was being paid to public servants in 2015 and took effect on the 1st of January, 2016. It is now the 5th day of December, 2016 and no mention has been made as to any increase for NIS pensioners and the minimum pension still stands at $25,000 per month.
During the former PNC government’s term in office and under whose initiatives NIS was formed by founder-leader Forbes Burnham, as the salaries/wages go up for public servants, the NIS pension went up immediately. This did not happen under Dr Roger Luncheon as Chairman of the NIS Board.
I am now calling on the NIS Board and the Government to look into this matter and see to it that we the NIS pensioners get what belongs to us as provided for by the National Insurance and Social Security Act, Chapter 36:01 as amended.
Regards
Affected Pensioner