Stuart Haynes, NIS CEO on Sunday said there could be a potential increase in pension payments in St Vincent.
Pension payments have not increased since 2014, a period spanning over a decade. This freeze was a deliberate measure to “correct the financial imbalance” of the system.
Haynes explained that without these reform measures (freezing pensions, increasing contribution rates, and adjusting the retirement age), the system would have faced a crisis by 2034, potentially leading to broken promises or emergency cuts.
The CEO acknowledged that this was a “sacrifice” made by pensioners to ensure the system remained sustainable for future generations.
Haynes stated that the NIS has “rebounded” and is in a “much better position now” financially than it was three years ago. Consequently, the organization is now well-placed to consider an increase for its “valued pensioners”.
When asked directly if there would be good news for pensioners in 2026, the CEO explicitly stated, “we will be planning for that”.
The specific recommendation for an increase will come from the 13th Actuarial Valuation, which is currently in the data analysis phase.
The review is expected to be completed by June 2026, with recommendations ready by July 2026. The actuaries will take into account the long freeze and the cost of living when making their recommendation.