Dear Editor,
For too long, thousands of hardworking Guyanese have been sidelined by a broken National Insurance Scheme (NIS) system that failed to deliver on its promise of social protection and security. The current PPP government’s response—offering a one-time payout to those disqualified due to insufficient contributions—was nothing more than a band-aid on a deep wound. It was a short-term fix for a long-standing injustice.
Guyanese deserve better. Our people, especially our elders, who toiled day in and day out to build this country, should not be treated as afterthoughts in their retirement years. Many were denied their rightful pensions not because they were unwilling to contribute but because they were caught in the cracks of an inefficient, often opaque system.
My proposal is clear, and just: the new government should restore dignity to every affected Guyanese by ensuring full access to their NIS benefits—benefits that they earned through years of service. This isn’t charity. This is justice.
1. Review and Validate – A thorough audit and review of all NIS accounts where persons were previously deemed ineligible due to insufficient contributions. The new government should ensure that no deserving citizens are overlooked.
2. Cover the Shortfall – Where workers have fallen short by just a few contributions—often due to employer negligence or systemic failures—the government will step in and pay or waiver the difference and ensure you meet the full qualification mark.
3. Full Benefits Restored – Once qualified, beneficiaries will receive their full NIS pension or monthly benefits, not a one-time political handout. This is sustainable support that respects your contribution to the economy.
4. Retroactive and Transparent – This programme will be implemented fairly, with transparency and accountability. And it should be retroactive. If you were denied before.
Let’s be clear: this is not a handout. This is a payout of justice long overdue. It’s about recognizing the sweat and sacrifice of our working class and ensuring they live with dignity in their later years. It should never be to buy votes with gimmicks; we are here to build a system that works for everyone.
The PPP has treated the NIS crisis like a political inconvenience. We see it for what it truly is—a betrayal of trust that must be corrected. The people of Guyana deserve a government that does not abandon them when they are most vulnerable. Restoring the promise of NIS—not just as a policy, but as a moral duty to our citizens.
The future is not in handouts. The future is in justice, dignity, and lasting social protection. That is the Guyana we are fighting for.
Your truly,
Pt.Ubraj Narine, JP, COA
Former Staff Sgt.(GDF), Mayor
City of Georgetown
