Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 22, 2016 (SKNIS): Employers and self-employed persons in St. Kitts and Nevis have been encouraged to play their part to ensure that Social Security can continue to meet its mandate to assist those in need and to advance the economic development of the country.
“Social Security will not long endure if delinquency in the contribution to the scheme continues to increase,” said the Premier of Nevis and Senior Minister and Minister responsible for Social Security, Honourable Vance Amory, at the recent opening of the new Social Security Building at Pinney’s in Nevis. “We want to ensure that all who are entitled, all who are required by law, make their contributions … because in the long run and the short run, you will be the beneficiaries of what you contribute to Social Security.”
He added that, recently, Social Security has had to file court cases against employers who were negligent in paying contributions on behalf of their employees, which is a legal requirement. Filing charges in court is often considered by officials to be a last resort, as efforts are repeatedly made to contact persons who are delinquent to determine if there is a problem and how best it can be resolved.
“Social Security takes no comfort in having to chase people and having to bring them before the court because they are delinquent in their contributions,” the Senior Minister stated, adding that, making such contributions is “a responsibility which you must own and you must transact to ensure that they are kept up to speed as you are required by law to do.”
Premier Amory encouraged the Social Security staff to remain vigilant in this regard and in all of their duties as they serve the interest of the people.