The National Insurance Corporation (NIC) will be hosting a two day workshop on Reciprocal Arrangements for Social Security Benefits  among Caricom Countries at the Bay Gardens Hotel from Thursday, April 27, 2006.

The opening ceremony takes place at 9:00 a.m. on April 27, 2006 and the feature address is expected to be delivered by the Hon. Prime Minister - who has the responsibility for Social Security in St Lucia.

Delegates  are expected from all the Caricom countries and their deliberations will be of tremendous significance to National Insurance Contributors who have worked in the various territories of the Caribbean.

The issue of reciprocal agreements - which allows persons to receive benefits in one country based upon their contributions in different countries, has taken on added significance with the introduction of the CSME.

With the free movement of persons across the Caribbean, Social Security institutions must be in a position to ensure that those persons are not disadvantaged when the time comes to claim for benefits.

The meeting is expected to review the existing agreement, make adjustments to it in light of operating difficulties, develop a procedures booklet and a protocol for the way forward.

The meeting ends on Friday, April 28, 2006.

Public Relations Department
April 24, 2006