The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas denied reports that their workers’ salaries were not allocated in a timely fashion.
In a press statement the BCB, said salaries for staff members were at the bank from Friday morning, June 13, two days before the June 15 payday which fell on Sunday.
However, a ZNS employee, speaking under the condition of anonymity on Sunday told the Guardian that up to that time, no-one had been paid.
It was earlier reported that a memo had been issued to workers Friday advising them that they would not be paid as scheduled.
A memo was issued as an attempt to communicate the June 15 pay schedule, and was not intended to create the impression that the Corporation would not meet its obligation.
The statement further read, that when the House of Assembly meets on Tuesday, Minister with the responsibility for Broadcasting, Obie Wilchcombe’s contribution will include the Corporation’s financial status over the past 10 years, including the fiscal period 2002 – 2003. He will also unveil the future plans of the BCB.
The statement read “it is unfortunate that the facts were misrepresented in the reports carried on private radio and in the newspapers.”
The Official Opposition also expressed disgust in the BCB’s delay in paying salaries at ZNS.
Leader of the Free National Movement Tommy Turnquest in a press statement said that never once in the history of his party were ZNS employees kept in the dark regarding forthcoming pay schedules, despite the fact of ZNS’ overstaffing.
“We have no doubt whatsoever that a good part of the reason for this lack of funds is the fact that earlier this year under the new chairman and Board of Directors there were so-called “realignment exercises” in which additional staff was hired and there were new deputy general managers appointed for clearly political purposes,” said Mr. Turnquest.
He said that while the party appreciates any attempt to upgrade the standards at ZNS, ” the harmful and wicked political shenanigans at the national broadcasting entity will not be tolerated.”
He said that it is presumed that the BCB ran out of funds before the new budget comes into effect on July 1, and demands a full explanation from the corporation and the Government as to why there was a delay.
“Over the past eight or nine months, we have watched the slow erosion of the many positive things put in place at ZNS when the FNM was the Government, including the further assault on the public purse.
“We warned in February of this year that the ridiculous appointment of six deputy general managers, even in an acting capacity, was an in-conceived, unfocused scheme to provide people with jobs as a public corporation already overloaded with 250 employees,” Mr. Turnquest said.
By Vanessa C. Rolle, The Nassau Guardian
