The National Insurance Services (NIS) honoured more than 200 pensioners from across St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) when it hosted a Pensioners Appreciation & Health Day at its Kingstown headquarters on Dec. 1.
Chairman of the NIS Board, Mr. Lennox Bowman, expressed gratitude towards the pensioners for helping to strengthen the social security system and assisting with the overall development of SVG.
He announced that the NIS will soon launch an organisation to provide access to a wide range of services for pensioners.
Featured speaker, Director of the NIS, Stewart Haynes said the day was being held to show appreciation for the work pensioners have done in fortifying the NIS and contributing to the development of SVG.
Haynes said the NIS is a fundamental pillar of the Vincentian society, as it is a safety net to many persons.
He said the NIS provides pension to 9,349 (in funeral grants, sickness, maternity, invalidity,
survivor’s and employment injury and pension benefits) which speaks to the financial impact the NIS has on many lives.
The director said in 2022, the NIS paid out EC$75 million and the estimated pension pay-out for 2023 is EC$80 million.
He also mentioned the ongoing public debates on pension reform, assuring the senior
citizens that the proposed measures will not reduce the value of their pension.
“We aspire to ensure that the payment is secured for life. This is one aspect that typically gets lost in the debate on NIS. But we make a concerted effort to ensure the security of your benefits, and where practicable, we would increase your benefits to protect against inflation,” Haynes said.
He explained that the leadership of the NIS takes seriously its responsibility for managing
Vincentians’ money, underscoring their commitment to ensuring the sustainability of
an efficient, cost-effective, and customer-friendly social security system.
Remarks were also delivered by the Coordinator of the Golden Years Trust, Joy
Matthews, who encouraged the pensioners to stay active by gardening, going to the beach,
volunteering, and socialising.
She also advised them to keep track of their health checks and stay abreast of current events.
The Pensioners Appreciation and Health Day was made possible with the support and
involvement of the Ministry of Health, the National Lotteries Authority, Coreas Distribution
Ltd., Massy Pharmacy, Courts Optical and Leb’Elle Foot and Nail Clinic.
The event provided the senior citizens with a delicious breakfast which included fresh
fruits. They also received free health services such as nutritional counselling; eye, kidney, and body mass index testing, and foot care consultations.