By Jomo Paul
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has admonished employers and self-employed persons for being negligent in their payment of National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions.
Dr Singh was at the time delivering the feature address at the commissioning of NIS’s Multipurpose Centre on Carifesta Avenue where he underscored the importance of insurance to the ordinary citizen.
He said since the establishment of NIS, the insurance Body has played a momentous role in the delivery of services to contributors but later noted that some persons are still not submitting NIS contributions as it should be done.
“There is a significant number of self-employed persons who are not participating in the scheme. Participation is not an option it is legally required. But very importantly….insurance is a peculiar thing; you don’t think you need it until you need it,” Dr Singh told the gathering at the commissioning ceremony.
He said that this situation is prevalent despite the fact that there has been a growth in the number of entrepreneurs and self-employed persons in Guyana over the years.
“The NIS contributions are not phenomenal or unaffordable for anybody in Guyana today…even the self-employed rates are acceptable,” he remarked.
He contended that while it is legally mandated for persons to submit NIS contributions; it would be in the best interest of persons to ensure that their NIS contributions are submitted to the agency.
“You should not wait until a medical emergency befalls you. You should not wait until old age is upon you to discover that you need the services of the scheme,” Singh contended.
Further, NIS senior employees were also reminded of their obligation to process contributions in an effective manner to ensure the smooth flow of operations at the entity.
“You have an important obligation to ensure that you dispose in a prompt manner the backlog that you have…everybody’s contribution statement should be up to date,” the Finance Minister said adding “the scheme has to put its shoulders to the wheel.”
People needs to pay their way.
They behave the same way many Business operate.
If you don’t pay the whole system will fall apart.
Reminds me Mayor Green’s wife had to repay ten (10) million dollars
in tax arrears.
There are many more similar delinquents.
Then they hate Ms Sooba.
These are the people who wants to rule Guyana!
Dr Singh would you contribute your hard earn money to a system that’s in disarray ?
For the time being, Dr Ashni Singh should refrain from scolding anyone.