Dear Editor,

I am hoping that by your publication of this letter you may generate some much-needed relief for not only me but also the many Jamaicans living overseas who contributed so much to Jamaica prior to relocating but now suffer the consequences of that relocation in so many ways.

Before leaving Jamaica I worked in government, the private sector, and for myself. Having started to work as an adult in 1972, I made my regular, compulsory contributions to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS); first at the Jamaica Tourist Board, then while serving the country in the Jamaica Defence Force. After that I worked with Xerox Jamaica Limited, followed by a job with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, and then, finally, as a self-employed person.

Seven years ago, when I became eligible, I applied to the NIS to begin receiving the payments to which I am entitled. Nothing happened.

Earlier this year, while I was in Jamaica, I visited the NIS Ripon Road offices to follow up on my application. After checking his computer, a young man there told me that NIS had sent me a cheque a couple of years earlier in foreign exchange, but the cheque had been returned. This was the first time I was hearing of that.

Anyway, I told him that there was no need to use up scarce foreign exchange to send my payments to me overseas as I had a local bank account. I handed over to him the confirmation of the existence of that account, signed and stamped by my bank. The gentleman then told me that all was now in order and my funds would be in the account by the end of that month. That was in May. To date, nothing has happened.

I have tried to reach the NIS offices by phone, and even tried to reach the Minister of Labour Karl Samuda, but all to no avail.

I have friends in Canada who are in a similar position, and who say that they are undergoing the same experience. Without wishing to paint anyone in an unfavourable light, my experience does cause me to wonder whether the officials concerned are hoping that claimants, like me, may die before the NIS has to make any payments to us, thus saving them that money.

Colin Henry

ch@aya.yale.edu