By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie has determined that controversial National Insurance Board Chairman Gregory Moss will not be placed on administrative leave as a thorough investigation of NIB’s books get underway.
Political pundits have questioned the move considering the suspension weeks ago of Director Algernon Cargill, pending the outcome of a probe into claims made against him in a lengthy highly sensitive Board report that was leaked.
Mr Christie said investiagtions will also review Mr Moss’s activity at the Board.
Mr Christie said after an extensive discussion with NIB Minister Shane Gibson and Mr Moss, he was satisfied that his government had made the correct decision in ordering a forensic audit. Mr Christie added that he was sure of an outcome that would produce results the government could act on. He said former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham could also benefit from those results.
Speaking with The Tribune, Mr Ingraham said he would welcome the audit: “Any day, anytime, anywhere and without notice.”
The revelations that have given insight into the escalating tensions at NIB have now forced the government, Mr Christie said, to examine the Board’s operations and the laws governing that organisation.
“As Prime Minister and Minister of Finance,” Mr Christie said, “I am pushing for an early resolution and I will act on the facts as they are determined by that independent audit. I can say with absolute confidence that there are always two sides to every story and I am now being told of the second side. I am satisfied with the decision of the government to have a forensic audit, it was the right decision.
“All allegations will in fact be brought to a public conclusion.
“I am satisfied that NIB is under no threat as it is now and so far I am concerned that we have now to move forward as aggressively as we can. I have an opportunity as Minister of Finance to look at all the observations that have been made (and) all of the allegations that have been made.”
Further, Mr Christie defended his position regarding a knowledge of issues at the Board. Mr Cargill claimed in court documents that the Prime Minister had been made well aware of them dating back to four months ago.
“With respect to whether or not I responded to Mr Cargill, it is difficult for a Director of National Insurance to ask the Prime Minister to intervene and not have his Minister intervene. At the same time he was writing me, I was receiving letters from the Board, it’s difficult for the board to write a communication to me and not to the Minister,” he said.
Those comments, however, are in contradiction to Mr Christie’s earlier claims that he had not been made aware of what was going on.
Comments
bookiedread 11 years, 5 months ago
Here we go again.........The more things change the more they remain the same. Same ole PLP. I cry shame on the PM.
hnhanna 11 years, 5 months ago
They cannot change because Corruptions is their hallmark
mynameis 11 years, 5 months ago
Well "DUH"! Ya'll wasn't so fool as to believe Christie would actually do something, hey? The only "change" Christie does is change his clothes. But on a serious note...for Christie to suspend or remove Moss would be too much fodder for Christie's political opponents. And he certainly wouldn't have been able to take that heat. I think however that in this matter, Christie is listening too much to his syncophants. It seems too that in this matter Christie forgets that his legacy is really about perception and perception is everything.
dacy 11 years, 5 months ago
MR. HUBERT A. INGRAHAM WAS RIGHT DESE FELLAS JUST CAN HELP DEMSELVES, THEY ARE CORRUPT AND WUTLESS!
TalRussell 11 years, 5 months ago
When PM Christie decides to give someone something he owns and worked for it matters not to Bahamians what they do with it. That's called given from the heart. But Comrades when it's done under the cloud of serious questions being asked, out of the hard working NIB payroll deductions taken directly from the paychecks of hard working Bahamians, it is done with allegations of abusing the peoples money. That's what's now being called into question?
PM your Christmas act of kindness to not suspend, equally while these serious allegations are thoroughly investigated, and not by some internal NIB audit but by independent outside investigators, is not encouraging for the many who trusted you not to return back to the early and lasting failures of 2002-2007?
PM you done falling short of the divisive expectations necessary from a PM. And, PM might I remind that there was no way you could have been elected, without the votes of many thousands of Hubert supporters, and PM right about now you got them shaking they heads?
I can think of many a man who would have done the right thing, by stepping aside while these allegations are being investigated, thus saving the PM being involved in muddy waters, particularly "personal" internal political fights at NIB? ...
by TalRussell
spoitier 11 years, 5 months ago
Somewhere in Abaco, HAI is smiling. Seriously it is freightening to see a person knowing what people are saying and knowing what they think of you and you're going to prove them right, it is one thing if what you're doing is making sense, but keeping this Gregory Moss doesn't make the least amount of sense.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 5 months ago
it will probably be a gomez that does the audit ,,,,PGC isn,t weak and hes not worried about a legacy ,,dey know dey old and this maybe their last raid of the treasaury ,dey even give Baltron "the funnel " Bethel a shot ,what bout Basil Sands or was the city market pension fund enough ,,,,lmao
jackbnimble 11 years, 5 months ago
First the gambiling fiasco, now this. Is this what the majority of Bahamians gave the PLP governance for?????
proudloudandfnm 11 years, 5 months ago
Well it is official. There aint nothing new about the PLP. Same old crooks. I am ashamed of my country today. Greg Moss has to be fired! PGC you are no leader, you are as weak and spineless as your first term. Your legacy will be that of a thief, a weakling and a puppet.
Shame on our PM and shame on the blatantly corrupt PLP.
proudloudandfnm 11 years, 5 months ago
Can we get them out of office? Is there any way? General strike maybe? We cannot have these people in power over the next 5 years. We are in to fragile an economy....
dacy 11 years, 5 months ago
proudloud many will begin to cry with a loud voice....watch!
maryann 11 years, 5 months ago
The signs were there Bahamas, but many chose to ignore them. The all for me crew is back again Bahamas
concernedcitizen 11 years, 5 months ago
pgc is very firm he put the crooks all around the cookie jar and doesn,t give a sh###t what anyone says ,we need to stop calling him weak ,,,,,,,,,,,he is the ring leader ,don,t mind that soft spoken ,wishy washy crap ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
spoitier 11 years, 5 months ago
A guidance counselor was counseling three school boys in his office, telling them about job security and professions that will be in demand in the Bahamas, so he decided to ask them about their ambition in life. The first little boy said he want to be a doctor because people will always get sick and need to see a doctor, the counselor responded by saying that is a good profession but it will take a lot of hard work and schooling to get there. The second little boy said he want to be a lawyer because with all of the criminals running around in the Bahamas they will need a lawyer go get them out of trouble, the counselor responded by saying there is definitely a need for lawyers, however, do it for the right reason, not just to get criminals out of trouble. The third little boy said I want to a MP under the Christie government, the counselor being puzzle by what the kid was saying ask him why. He said because I could do whatever I want to do, thief the people money, give green card to people that are famous, go around making treats to security guards, anything I darn well want to do and still keep my job.
leeza 11 years, 5 months ago
dat third boy gat all the sense
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