Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney has questioned Prime Minister Perry Christie’s leadership and accused the government of being “two-faced” for allowing Chairman of the National Insurance Board (NIB) Gregory Moss to remain in his post while NIB Director Algernon Cargill has been placed on administrative leave.
Cargill was placed on administrative leave after Moss outlined various allegations against him in a letter to Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson on November 8.
Cargill sued Moss and NIB and outlined allegations against Moss in a 33-page affidavit filed in court last
week.
McCartney said while he does not agree with some observers who have called on Moss to step down, he thinks the chairman should also be placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of an independent audit.
“But this is typical of the PLP administration,” McCartney told The Nassau Guardian yesterday. “I find them almost two-faced in the circumstances. If Mr. Cargill is asked to step down during this time and there are certain allegations being made against Mr. Moss, I think the right thing to do is to step down as the investigation takes place.
“And the Bahamian people ought to be able to review the report on that investigation and how the investigation was done. And if it is found that there is wrongdoing, those persons need to be immediately terminated.”
However, Prime Minister Christie told reporters on Tuesday that the status quo will remain pending the completion of an independent audit into NIB’s accounts which is expected to wrap up this month.
Christie, who met with Moss and Gibson on Monday, said the talks with the two men left him “satisfied” that the government has handled the controversy correctly thus far.
McCartney chuckled when asked for his thoughts on Christie’s comments that he is satisfied on the handling of the matter.
“I guess that’s something he had to say. But he knows within himself that they are not going about this the right way. And quite frankly, if he applauds the way it is being handled he needs to question his leadership,” McCartney said.
“Perry Christie has a great opportunity to leave a very good lasting legacy…That’s up to him and how he acts and what he does. Many things have been going on recently and it doesn’t look like he’s going to be headed in that direction.”
McCartney said the NIB debacle is a clear example of why the country needs an independent watchdog. “It seems as if when governments come into power that they can do or say anything,” he said.
Meantime, Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis said he wants the opposition to be more involved in the investigation.
“As a matter of fact it would be nice for the opposition to look into who comprises the audit team to ensure transparency. You can’t pick a team of PLPs and say it’s independent,” Minnis said.
However, the independent firm Grant Thornton will conduct the audit. Minnis said Moss should be fired.
“We must move away from this discriminatory treatment,” he said. “Under the private sector he would have been asked to resign.”
By Krystel Rolle
Guardian Staff Reporter
