Barbados must explore a more progressive National Insurance Scheme (NIS) that could include higher contributions from the wealthy with no increased benefits for those individuals, economist Marsha Caddle has proposed.“I stand by it. I don’t know if it is a recommendation that the Government will take but I think that the NIS contribution system has to start to more closely align with our progressive tax system,” she said as she presented wide-ranging proposals for the fund which experts warn could be depleted in 12 to 20 years if urgent action is not taken to bolster it.Addressing the annual general meeting of the League of Young Socialists at Barbados Labour Party headquarters last Saturday, the Government backbencher cautioned that the country must be very cautious about determining which category of citizens can afford to pay more.“Because when we set these thresholds for higher contributions too low, then we have an issue with a middle class that is vulnerable and that is a