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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

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NIB director denies victimization claims By JASMIN BONIMY ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ jasmin@nasguard.com: Director of the National Insurance Board (NIB) Algernon Cargill has categorized claims made by PLP MPs in the House of Assembly on Tuesday concerning the decision to send home five NIB executives earlier this week as "embarrassing" and "insulting." Member of Parliament for Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador and former NIB Chairman Philip 'Brave' Davis charged that what happened to the five executives was a "dastardly act," and Bain and Grants Town MP Dr. Bernard Nottage claimed that certain NIB officials have been going around trying to find out the political affiliation of employees. But Cargill told The Nassau Guardian, " I want to be unequivocally clear; there has been absolutely no direction from the Office of the Prime Minister or the government of The Bahamas to effectively vacate those positions. "The only direction we have received from the prime minister is that he expects the National Insurance Board will comply with the policies of government insofar as the way we operate. My mandate is to do that and I actually feel insulted about what has been said." Cargill added, "I listened to the House of Assembly [Tuesday] and I was pretty disappointed to hear some of the comments that were being made as well as the comments that are being made without any basis. There, in my opinion, have been no questions asked to any employees about their political alliance. The only (questions) we've asked employees about is their performance on the job and their deliverance of what is expected of them." While a statement sent by NIB on Tuesday did not name the executives released, The Nassau Guardian understands that Melicianna Bethel, assistant director of Buildings; Cecile Bethel, deputy director of Special Projects; Anthony Curtis, senior deputy director of Operations; Andre Bethel, information technology manager, and Azella Major, deputy director of Family Island Offices, received early retirement packages. Cargill said the board was restructured in a bid to address deficiencies that were identified after several internal and external operational assessments were conducted. "As a result the board of directors acted in a responsible, humane and dignified manner in terms of the treatment of employees at the National Insurance Board," he said. "...The decisions we made we considered to be fair, equitable and fully in compliance with Bahamian law and in all cases exceed Bahamian law requirements. The decisions were made in the best interest of the board and done in a dignified manner." Cargill also dismissed claims that the five former executives were told of their release on Tuesday morning and ordered to leave their posts that same day. According to the NIB director, the board met with the five executives on Monday and told them the recommendations to "vacate their positions" became effective yesterday. He added that the executives have until tomorrow to meet with the board in order to finalize the separation packages they were offered. "The discussions with employees have been entirely positive," Cargill said. "During the meetings employees all appeared to understand. I have not yet obtained or received any objections [by the five executives] to the recommendations made by the board of directors." In the House of Assembly on Tuesday, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham insisted the board acted independently. Thursday, July 2, 2009