Incoming Chairman of the National Insurance Services’ (NIS) board of directors, Stephen Joachim, says that his qualifications and experience make him an ideal candidate for the job.
Joachim, the financial controller of Mustique Company Ltd., defended his appointment as the on Hot97 FM on Monday, saying that his despite his previous criticism of the present New Democratic Party (NDP) administration, the NIS remained one of the country’s most important entities that invoked serious discussion.
Prime Minister Godwin Friday announced Joachim’s appointment on Friday, replacing Lennox Bowman.
However, the announcement has invoked discussion in the public, especially among individuals on social media who criticised Joachim for comments he made publicly regarding members of the current administration.
“I am cool with that as far as politics goes, people criticise,” Joachim said.
“I don’t care who want to cuss me and criticise me. I am cool with that, I am not a party hack … and I will tell you what, everybody is entitled to their opinion, say whatever you like, opinions are different from facts,” he said.
Following the 2025 general election, Joachim said that he had had a discussion with some of the “top people” in the NDP.
He said that they discussed his possible chairmanship of the boards of directors of the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the National Lotteries Authority, the Ottley Hall Marina and the NIS.
“And I said to be quite honest, I think the most important entity going forward for the next foreseeable future is the NIS,” the incoming NIS chair NIS said, adding that the NIS deals with people’s lives.
Joachim said that he had concerns about the current payout to pensioners, saying it was too little.”
He asked whether the NIS could afford to pay more.
“It is about balance and I would like to invoke discussion,” he said.
There were a number of things that he said he did not agree with, for example, the payment of EC$500 to students who were successful at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations, or for National Properties owing the NIS and being repaid with real estate instead.
“I think the NIS money must be used for something else, but we must have those conversations and they must be public,” he said.
The NDP administration has proposed the establishment of a national health insurance system and a national development bank, which the NIS will be involved in, Joachim noted.
“And we need sensible, intelligent people to guide us.”
Some members of the public did not understand the role of the chairman, Joachim said.
“The chairman is not someone who manages the affairs of the entity; the chairman is somebody who leads a board of directors who sets policy for the organisation,” Joachim said.
The board cooperates with the government to decide which policies make sense.
Secondly, he said that he enquired about the financial compensation for the position of the chairman of the NIS and was told that it was EC$1,000 per month.
“I smiled to myself; $1,000 a month is what I was told the chairman of the board gets from the NIS. People, let’s be realistic, if you want to criticise me, come down on my incompetence, incapacity to do the job. As far as I am aware, no one is questioning that,” Joachim said.
Joachim said that as NIS chairman, he does not have the authority to veto government decisions.
Joachim, who said that, up to the time of the radio interview, he had not received an official letter of appointment, said that he intends to meet with the prime minister next week to discuss.
He added that he has already expressed some of his views about the way forward for the NIS and how to treat it as a government institution.
“I am just saying that if I feel that something is substantially wrong, then I would speak to the government because I am not here to embarrass them, but I will tell them that I feel they are wrong,” he said.
The government is on target with all of its appointments.We expect results. The NIS would reflect the working population. Much of the work is in the field ensuring that contributions of workers are made so that pensions can be assured.
Leave Joachim alone!
Tribal partisan policies!
It shows how far we have to go as a people.
Alienation of ppl with the knowledge and expertise.
I crave for the day that an NDP supporter can pledge his support for his/her party and, in the same breath, call out the party’s shortcomings.
There is a need for critical thinkers, not rubber stampers. Two things can be true at the same time – criticizing a party constructively and working for said party.
For 25 years, the Red Ants rubber stamp the policies and actions of the ULP.
Cornelius John got shot – Tight lips.
Ugi Farrel – Closed mouths.
A man lost his block building business – Not my business.
Hundreds lost employment over a jab – Who cares.
$3.5B in debt – It is a sign of progress.
Joachim, it’s your first time around,but some people on these boards are double dipping. Dipped indirectly last time around.
Stephen Joachim appointment is a slap in the face of democracy that provided ba 14-1 results. It is the same old same old. The NDP was myopic in appointing someone to the board who has dictatorial tendencies. Why criticize the past ULP government when you are no different.
Stephen Joachim is as ignorant as it becomes, an unstable element akin to quick silver. He cannot be tamed or expected to get along with others on the board. He certainly will request this policies to be rubber stamped.
This man was denied a firearm license several times for the very reason that it is believe that he might use it unlawfully. His appointment suggests that tne NDP will be a one term government. The Comrade is waiting patiently.
Its a case in which fidget men never admit his fish stinks.the appointment of Joachim is of the same kettle of fish.
The appointment of Stephen Joachim as chairperson of the NIS was criticized by ordinary Vincentians who classified it as out of alignment with the philosophy of what is considered to be good governance.
Some saw the appointment as superfluous, still the minority saw it as a worthwhile appointment. The jury is still out there as to whether or not there is a proper fit between the personality of Stephen and the likey arrogance that is associated with the the man himself.
Is this the change that Vincentians voted for? Some consider Stephen to be a sleeper cell and a mole as he was an advocate and an ardent supporter of the former ULP regime. It reminded me of the song, ” time will tell”. It will surely tell.
Red ants tell jebif justice was served when you were appointed bas chairperson of the NIS board?