Nandlall blames ignorance for owing NIS millions

May 08, 2016 News

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
The ignorance of Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall has landed him into a $4.4M debt. Nandlall took

Former AG,
Anil Nandlall

it for granted that the government was making contributions for him to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
He told Kaieteur News that he belatedly learnt that this was not the case and that he was expected to make his contributions personally. The recent release of a report of the forensic audit into the operations of NIS has revealed much. The report was prepared by auditor Ramesh Seebaran.
Seebaran said that over $2.5B remains outstanding by contributors who have not paid their dues but have been submitting monthly returns. The report stated that several companies and businesses, many of which are no longer in existence, have not been making the payments.
The report also revealed that several public figures have over a lengthy period, remained indebted to the scheme. Among those highlighted are Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, Nandlall, former Minister Pauline Sukhai and another former Attorney General, Charles Ramson.
Trotman owed $554,850 but has since settled his payments. Trotman said that he was not aware of the debt.
Kaieteur News understands that Trotman, on Friday morning, met with a representative of NIS and was advised that the matter does not relate to remitting NIS contributions for any staff member of his, but rather, pertain to his

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

personal contributions whilst he was in law practice.
Sukhai has a debt of $1.6 million and Ramson owes just over $1M. Kaieteur News was unable to contact Sukhai. Nandlall said that he will be making moves to settle his debt.
The former Attorney General and Legal Affairs said that the outstanding sum was accumulated over the period of time he was a minister.
He explained that Ministers are “strangely” considered, for the purpose of NIS payments, to be self employed. “So you are to make NIS contributions personally; it is not deducted from your salary even thought PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is but I did not know this. I belatedly found out.”
Nandlall said that he will pay the money but not before he is satisfied that is his true indebtedness.
The former Minister said that he reflected on the sum on the figure and it does not sound remotely correct. “So I will have to query. It seems like an inflated amount.”
In this regard, Nandlall said that he will write NIS and request a breakdown. “Once satisfied that that is my true indebtedness I will make arrangements for the sum to be paid.”