The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Anyone who has worked in a commercial large scale company knows that the basis for success is having educated well qualified people throughout the organisation. At the board room level this principle is even more important. If you look at any large company they have very bright people at the top.

This when you give it some thought is pure common sense. For example would Apple, the world’s most successful company, want a bunch of dimwits running it?

This brings us to the issues at the National Insurance Board. It is a large organisation with over $1 billion in assets and cash. This money is accrued by contributions from the people of the Bahamas. It is not the PLP’s money, no more than it was previously the FNM’s money. It’s quite simply the people’s money. It is however the function of government to put well qualified, bright (and most importantly here in the Bahamas honest) people in charge to ensure the funds of the people are used correctly.

Under the previous administration the two people at the very top of the organisation were Patrick Ward and Algernon Cargill. Both are very well qualified with successful backgrounds in business. Mr Ward is a highly positioned executive in the Insurance industry and Mr Cargill has an impressive executive banking/commercial background. Mr Ingraham placed these two people in charge at National Insurance not for political reasons (Cargill for example comes from a PLP background), but because they are competent.

This brings me to the present situation at National Insurance. I think it’s a fair and balanced comment that it has not gone well in the last six months at National Insurance. I also need to stress this is not a partisan letter it’s a plea to Mr Christie to please place qualified, smart and honest people at the head of National Insurance to look after our money.

You do not want your legacy to be the man who bankrupted National Insurance. If National Insurance is not well run we all know the consequences – the funds will disappear in short order.

CONCERNED CITIZEN
NOT PLP OR FNM
(OR EVEN DNA)

Nassau,

January, 2013.