Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/687/-1/135/
|
Social Security Covers Self-Employed Persons
|
Self-employed persons in Anguilla are now fully covered under the Social Security system and the Minister the Hon. Victor Banks has announced that the necessary regulations governing their contributions have been signed.
“This in my mind is the continuation of the vision of Social Security when it began in Anguilla 20 years ago,” he said.” It is fitting that on this occasion of the 20th Anniversary of Social Security in Anguilla we are now about to extend coverage to the self-employed. The non-contributory pensions were put in place last year. This now gives the self-employed an opportunity to subscribe towards the efforts of other members of social security by their contributions to supporting a non-contributory pension. It goes back to the whole issue of social solidarity where all workers in Anguilla are able to contribute to a scheme that not only helps them and their families, but helps others as well…”
|
|
Minister of Finance, Hon. Victor Banks
|
Mr. Banks said he was looking forward to the support of the wider community and the self-employed persons who have an opportunity to be part of the system, to contribute and benefit from it.
|
|
P. S. Economic Development, Marcel Fahie
|
Chairman of the Social Security Board, Marcel Fahie, said having served in the same position when the system was introduced 20 years ago, he felt privileged to be around again when a major extension of coverage was introduced.
He said it was because of the enthusiasm shown by self-employed persons to come aboard the system that it was felt absolutely necessary to give them the opportunity to start at the beginning of the year rather than later. He commended the Director of Social Security, Timothy Hodge and his staff for being able to accelerate the provision.
Mr. Hodge said self-employed persons had been calling for their inclusion in the system for a long time; and he stated that there were now contributions in the system from those persons.
He went on: “I am very pleased and satisfied that the social security system has come of age with the coverage of self-employed persons and I want to thank the Minister Mr. Victor Banks who has always been there at the front leading when it comes to questions of whether it is right from an economic and philosophical standpoint and even from a religious standpoint as to whether or not we should all be our brother’s keeper. This is because the more persons involved in the system, the stronger it will be and the more likely it will be to meet the needs of anyone when the time comes whether they are self-employed or not.”
The beginning of 2003 now marks the 21st Anniversary of the Social Security system in Anguilla which has achieved its million-dollar mark under the able leadership of Timothy Hodge with the support of his staff.
Director Social Security, Timothy Hodge
|