Gov’t wants share in insurance profits

Following the dramatic decrease in the rate of road accidents in the country, the Ministry of Internal Security recently announced plans of meeting insurance companies in the country to discuss sharing profits. Last week minister Harelimana told the media that accidents have reduced by 30 percent meaning that they have not only contributed to the improvement of road safety but also in economic gains. “We have done a good job in reducing accidents, to which these insurance companies are gaining a lot, we have to devise ways of how we can have a share of these profits,” Harelimana emphasized during a get together party at Police headquarters in Kacyiru. Speaking to The New Times, Corneille Karekezi, the Director General of SONARWA and the President of Rwandan Insurers Association (ASSAR) said that the insurers might get statistical problems with the Police as the figures might be manipulated during the information gathering and analyses. “But then, we don’t have any contract with the Internal Security Ministry. There is no way we can share the profits,” Karekezi hastened to add. ASSAR was established in 1992 and is composed of five insurance companies operating in the country: SONARWA, SORAS, CONGEAR, PHOENIX and CORAR. When contacted, Mark Rugenera, the Director General of SORAS said that all details and decisions would be channelled through their association (ASSAR). “What the association agrees with the ministry we shall implement,” Rugenera said. According to Harelimana, the National Police has achieved a lot in fighting domestic crimes that include theft and road accidents over which all Rwandans should celebrate. “What we can do is giving premium bonus or discount to our clients after carefully analyzing the statistics and that is exactly what we always do,” Karekezi added. Ends