By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
ALGERNON Cargill, the suspended Director of the National Insurance Board (NIB), has instructed his attorney Alfred Sears to make a formal complaint on his behalf with the Data Commissioner after more of his personal NIB information was leaked on the internet over the weekend.
According to Mr Cargill’s attorney, the Data Commissioner, George Rodgers will then instruct the police to carry out a forensic investigation to determine the source of the leak; as such breeches of the Data Protection Act could carry a fine of up to $100,000.
Minister of Labour Shane Gibson yesterday announced that his ministry has commenced an internal probe into how confidential documents, including financial records detailing Mr Cargill’s salary and the benefits received by him and seven other executives were made public.
“We are doing an investigation in trying to determine how the information was leaked, why, because I think it’s wrong,” Mr Gibson said.
“A person’s personal information should be their personal information, if (the government) “We are doing an investigation in trying to determine how the information was leaked, why, because I think it’s wrong,” Mr Gibson said.
“A person’s personal information should be their personal information, if (the government)
Bonuses awarded to eight NIB senior executives and a contracted worker over a three-year period were made public last week. According to the information, which was also posted on a tabloid website, executives were awarded a total sum of $723,333 in six payments. The information has incited speculation over the legitimacy of bonuses awarded to Mr Cargill, who was alleged to have received just under $200,000 in bonuses during that period.
The corporation has been embroiled in controversy, after allegations made by chairman Greg Moss concerning Mr Cargill’s performance at NIB were leaked last month. In response to the leak, Mr Cargill filed a writ with the Supreme Court against the Board and Mr Moss, claiming that the allegations were untrue and defamatory. Following this, Prime Minister Perry Christie ordered a forensic audit be conducted at the $1.6 billion corporation to determine whether or not any action should be taken in the debacle.
Recurring breaches of confidentiality at the executive level of the National Insurance Board has left board directors stumped, according to deputy chairman Bernard Evans, who speculated that the leak may have come from persons involved in conducting a forensic audit at the quasi-government corporation.
According to Grant Thornton Bahamas, the firm contracted to conduct the forensic audit into allegations of impropriety and misuse of funds at the National Insurance Board, the report will be completed and presented to the government within the first week of January. However, yesterday, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the report could be completed as early as next week.
Yesterday, Mr Gibson refused say whether or not he was aware of the figures, their accuracy, or whether or not he felt the sums awarded were unjustified or excessive.
Unlike the salaries and related benefits received by public officers such as himself, Mr Gibson said that quasi-government agencies were afforded privacy under the law. However, he suggested that a group of independent persons could be appointed to review such matters and make determinations on whether or not the information should be released to the press and to what extent.
“I’m not going to be discussing anybody’s salaries in the press. I won’t do it privately and I won’t do it publicly I will execute my duties in accordance with the National Insurance Act.
“Even though it’s public money, have you ever heard anybody discuss how much executives at the (Bahamas Electricity Corporation) makes, or the (Bahamas Telecommunications Company) or Water and Sewerage or ZNS? Have you ever seen that?
Mr Gibson added: “If the framers of our constitution wanted it to be so they would have included it in the constitution that the salaries of quasi-government entities would be published as well. But the fact is that it was never done, I see no reason for me to start it now.”
Comments
TalRussell 11 years, 4 months ago
Comrades it's almost as if PM Christie is isn't taking seriously how quickly his 2002-2007 government lost their credibility to govern over Bahamalnad?
If a PM cannot even run the board over at the National Insurance Board (NIB) should he really be 'trusted" to run any Referendum, much less one with such controversy, over what is the government's truthful reasoning behind placing such a top priority for the rushed legalization of the numbers rackets?
Amazingly, some familiar 2002-2007 characters are popping up in the news stories, questioning PM Christie's competency to take decisive actions?
There seems be a belief over at NIB that no Bahamian, even if they happen to be the tax paying owners of the Crown corporation from which just happens to pay out their political appointed paychecks that; if you have to ask if it's true the directors have received bonus and how much, you're not entitled to know the answer?
Lord Jesus help Bahamaland to instill some measurable form of sanity in PM Christie's head, cause not only are folks being paid out bonuses at NIB but any current board member who might also think it's appropriate to sue your backsides, preventing no Bahamian ever again finding out about them, but also keeping forever secret the dollar amounts attached these payments is in reality costing tax payers?
All this coming down from the towers at NIB which is best described as an Crown owned corporation thrown into crisis, cause Comrades, regardless of the colors of we party t-shirts be we, gotta know there's som'in onerously wrong when the nutty secret policies is what is directing the top brass over at the NIB asylum? Yes, i said it.
PM I find it strange that you would sit quietly while appointees are claiming that no Bahamian has a right to know about these bonuses, much less how they are calculated?
First order business is to explain to Bahamians what justifications were used to payout bonuses of any kind, much less what is sounding like some pretty damn enormous bonuses, paid put to directors and hidden from all but a few at NIB?
Comrades of all political t-shirt colors. Is it possible there can be greater arrogance than to not only reward your own political appointment payments with added thousands of tax payers dollars in the form of self-imposed bonuses, but to do it in such darkness and at a time when so many Bahamians are scrapping to keep a roof over their families heads and a chicken in da pot?
PM since it's crystal clear that minister Shane will not fire? Well, PM it takes but one telephone call to your cabinet Minister Shane? I know it must begin with with your stern call to your minister, but PM only you can decide if it should also end with him? And, PM you ain't donned call no lawyer first to ask if you have the power to fire the backsides and fire them today.
by TalRussell
concernedcitizen 11 years, 4 months ago
Tals ain,t much defense for these fellas ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
concernedcitizen 11 years, 4 months ago
don,t worry Shame Gibson is in charge of our most valuable goverment corporation,,now lets see how many times did King Erics burn down ,then theres Ana Nicole ,Shame wife was counseling her and king eric was in the states getting a new boat when Ana O,D ,,,,PGC can,t hide behind being a nice ,second chance guy anymore ,,he put these scoundrels around our money ................anyone seen the PM,s wife latley ??/
TalRussell 11 years, 4 months ago
Comrade to the contrary cause I understated more than you think i do. This arrogance over at NIB didn't start with the reelection of PM Christie's PLP as the new govern men, cause it was also gong on under the red shirts. So, please don't plead such innocence.
My position is simple. PM Christie is the current PM, not Hubert, and it is his sole responsibility to act quickly to bring order to what many Bahamians, of all political stripes, has good reasons to believe has been going on with abusing tax dollars at NIB.
This is not just about out politics. It should be of concern to all Bahamians who have had enough from the gold and red shirts disregard for tax dollars?
True, Hubert ordered the Benz but tis he former law partner PM Christie who's riding in the back seat these days?
by TalRussell
concernedcitizen 11 years, 4 months ago
Huberts fishin,PGC is watching or spending our money now ,,..................
concernedcitizen 11 years, 4 months ago
only Evans ,Shame , or their cronneys doing the audit could of leaked it ,why is Evans stumped ,,,,,,,,,,,,?????????????????? lmao
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