Scores of Guyanese packed St. Gabriel’s Church Annex in Brooklyn, to finish documentation to obtain NIS/Social Safety Advantages owed to them, throughout an outreach on Nov. 4.
Photograph by Tangerine Clarke
Scores of nationals packed St. Gabriel’s Church Annex on Saturday, Nov. 4 to hunt assist with their Nationwide Insurance coverage Scheme, (NIS) – Social Safety advantages, which can be caught up in a backlog on the nation’s Georgetown workplace.
The outreach that began in Brooklyn and continued in Schenectady and Queens over the subsequent two days, to deal with points pertaining to advantages after attaining the age of 60, was a promise made by President Irfaan Ali, throughout a city corridor, on the sidelines of the UN Common Meeting final September.
Rosalinda Rasul, head of the Diaspora Unit within the Ministry of International Affairs, and Common Supervisor of NIS, Holly Greives, assisted by employees of the Guyana Consulate NY, processed paperwork of lots of of expats.
Rasul, who met individuals arriving exterior of the constructing to hurry up the method, instructed Caribbean Life that the outreach from 9:00am – 5:00pm, was deliberate to facilitate retirees, as a result of the unit has been involved with “all of our diplomatic missions, the diaspora or with teams so we have been in a position to assist with the coordination of logistics and the distribution of notices so we may attain many individuals with problems with their social safety.”
She stated this was a chance to interface with the diaspora to help in expediting the method. Some individuals that had minor points, have been helped instantly exterior of the Annex.
“I wish to encourage Guyanese to make use of the net platforms out there to them, and thank them for his or her endurance, and to allow them to know that the federal government of Guyana and all of us worth them for his or her contributions over time. I do know that typically interfacing with sure businesses is probably not the simplest factor to do however we’re right here to offer them decision. We’ve heard the president make a dedication that these items are going to be addressed inside a sure timeline which is earlier than Dec. 31 of this yr.”
“This implies we’re going to clear off all of the backlog, and all of the challenges they’ve. It’s a studying expertise as a result of we’ve additionally documented what are among the key challenges that they’re going through in terms of coping with their Social Safety,” she stated including.
“It would give us a chance to return and machine a method how we are able to enhance this technique, communication submission of types or simply easy issues and the way greatest to make that service simpler for them, defined Rasul.
Consul Common to New York, Michael Brotherson praised the hassle, noting that New York has the biggest diaspora, and recall that President Irfaan Ali fulfilled his promise to ship a workforce to the state, and applauded the work of the consulate whose function it’s to facilitate such an outreach.
On the time CG Brotherson spoke to this publication, he stated the method was going effectively and paperwork of over fifty individuals have been accomplished, noting that, regardless of the overwhelming crowd, the train would accommodate everybody, and their points can be resolved.
“Due to the federal government’s efforts to modernize the consulate, individuals can apply through our on-line portal in addition to make an appointment on-line for an interview,” stated CG Brotherson, including that the Consulate workplace has relocated to 228 E 45th Road, 4th Flooring, in Manhattan, in an area that’s extra accommodating.
“Once more, due to my ideas in Georgetown, and because of President Ali for his imaginative and prescient and making certain that an train of this magnitude is happening, he stated and confirmed the numerous technological methods individuals can have their paperwork processed. Like through the WhatsApp platform, by calling NIS in Guyana (592-623-2806), New York (212-947-5110) web site; www.guyanaconsulatenewyork.org.
Fazal Joe Yussuff, advisor on Funding & Diaspora Affairs, Guyana Consulate, recalled that the largest considerations addressed by Guyanese throughout President Ali’s latest city corridor assembly have been NIS advantages and passports.
“The target is to ensure that we handle everybody that reveals up right here as we speak we’re not leaving till everyone seems to be seen, and to ensure that any points that any of the seniors are having with their NIS that we are able to resolved, to make them blissful and glad and extra importantly to ensure that they get what they’re entitled to,” stated Yussuff.
“They work laborious of their lives to get this profit so why ought to we maintain it again, and the president dedication has come to fruition right here as we speak,” stated Yussuff, who promised that this outreach was the start of many extra packages to interact the Diaspora.
He stated the seniors expressed frustration that they’d gone to Guyana and telephoned with out getting a response.
“It’s not proper, we wish to be sure we’re right here to serve the individuals within the diaspora and do the suitable factor for them, and most significantly, to ensure that they get what they deserve.”
“That is just the start,” he stated, indicating that the workforce will likely be touring to different Diaspora communities together with New Jersey, Canada, Maryland, and Washington DC.
Immigration lawyer, Melnia Cordis praised the outreach saying it has supplied a much-needed service for pensioners and seniors of the diaspora. She accompanied her mom to help with the processing of an software for survivor’s declare, and to get extra info her father or mother wanted about NIS contributions made over time.
She added that she was blissful that the Consulate was additionally offering the service and that the federal government was listening to the wants of the diaspora. Cordis is a member of the President’s Faculty Alumni Affiliation, New York.
