Fewer people at NIS march due to ‘fear of being victimised’

Attorney at law Lynette Eastmond believes that many members of the public are afraid to publicly protest against government’s intention to increase the pensionable age for fear of being victimised.

Speaking to the media moments before the third ‘Leave We Lifeline Alone’ march got underway this morning with a smaller number of protesters than the previous two, the spokesperson said: “The civil service has a significant number of people, and those individuals feel that they cannot march – the civil service, public officers, as well as those who work for statutory corporations.

“Government is a bigger consumer of services and goods and there are individuals out there who rely on these government purchases of goods and services, who may not wish to jeopardise that. All of us out here, possibly could be the subject of victimisation. You’re applying for contracts if you’re in private sector, and there’s a possibility that you wouldn’t get them because people look at you and believe that you’re an agitator or whatever, and you may not get them,” Eastmond said.

Nevertheless, Eastmond said the protests are already having an impact, insisting that several recent developments have been a direct result of the agitation of the group.

“It is clear that it has got through to the political directorate because they’ve actually responded directly to us in terms of issues that we’ve raised… Since we started marching we have found that the larger trade unions have now held consultations. They didn’t have them before. The Barbados Workers’ Union, the National Union of Public Workers, the Barbados Union of Teachers all of them have had consultations,” she added.

Eastmond also pointed to the amendment which was to be made to the legislation regarding changes to the mandate of the National Insurance Scheme board, and suggested this was also due to the protest actions.

Saying the recently held press conference by Prime Minister Mia Mottley had not eased anyone’s fears regarding the future of the island’s social security net,  Eastmond said there were outstanding concerns that had to be addressed regarding the $80 million in NIS funds to be invested overseas.

“We understand that you’re trying to diversify the portfolio with investment, but all we’re asking is, who’s managing that? Who have you hired? A firm, a company, an individual, whatever, to decide what you’re going to do with the $80 million and if you’ve chosen a person, let us know who it is, let us know who chose the person, let us know what their track record is, let us know the type of investments they’re invested in. That is just standard information that you would give to anybody at all,” she added.

(JB)