Barbadians March for Transparency and Accountability in Proposed National Insurance Scheme Changes

by Shamar Blunte

Barbadians deserve transparency. This was the roaring message delivered at the second march against the proposed changes to the National Insurance Scheme, which was organised by the Unity Workers’ Union (UWU), The Steering Committee, and the Marcia Weekes Show.

Despite persistent early-morning showers, the march, titled ‘Pull Back Daah Bill,’ promptly began just after 10 on Saturday, and saw just over 100 Barbadians joining in to express their objection to the Government’s proposal to increase the pensionable age to 68 in 2034.

Veteran politician and Attorney-at-Law Lynette Eastmond, who was one of the speakers during the morning’s protest, said that the recurring issue plaguing the talks around the NIS, continues to be the lack of transparency Barbadians are experiencing concerning the monies used from the fund.

“Here on this march, one of the biggest issues for us is transparency … we should know what is happening with the money. Some people would say that what we are doing is irresponsible, you got to reform the fund, but it would not ever be reformed properly if you can continue to dip your hand into it.

“So, now it is [age] 68, then it will be 75, and next thing it will not be a fund that can give you a pension, but can just give you some money if you scrape your hand or something like that,” she said.

She said the public had become tired of successive governments’ haphazard approach when using the monies within the fund, and that changes were needed.

“Barbadians are usually very disciplined people; if they are encouraged to pay into the fund they will pay into the fund, but then we cannot allow a handful of people to then just use the money as they please.

“We do not want another Four Seasons. So these are the issues we are concerned about, and I think you will see that many of us are committed, we want to see other people come out because the truth is, rain never stops Kadooment, so why should it stop something we are fighting for.”

Meanwhile, former senator and veteran trade unionist Caswell Franklyn told marchers that it is unfair that Barbadians are being asked to suffer to save the fund, when the current and previous administrations were at fault for funds being depleted over several years.

“The National Insurance fund is in crisis because of the actions, not only of this administration, but the one before that, and the one before that … all of them believe that it is their money that they can do what they like with.”

He added: “You imperil the fund, [and] made sure that we don’t have enough money down the road to pay it. So you are asking us, having put the money there, you are asking us to go back and put it again. That is unfair, especially when you write off money for people who own buildings in Bridgetown, who are renting stores in Bridgetown, not paying National Insurance, not paying any sort of VAT, and [you] write it off.”

One Barbadian who watched the march from the sidelines told Barbados TODAY that he supported changes to NIS, but that the “misuse” of funds needs to be addressed.