Attorney Alfred Sears said yesterday he does not understand why auditors completing an audit into the accounts of the National Insurance Board (NIB) did not question his client, NIB Director Algernon Cargill, before publicly stating that the report was substantially done.
Sears said he has worked with forensic accountants for years and was “confused” over the route Grant Thornton Bahamas had taken.
The government hired the auditors after then NIB Chairman Gregory Moss wrote a 22-page letter to Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson in November making numerous allegations against Cargill and advising that the Board of NIB had voted unanimously to terminate him.
Cargill has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the audit.
Sears said yesterday he wrote to the auditors in December letting them know that his client was available for an interview. He added that he has also requested to see a list of questions the auditors plan to ask his client and the terms of reference of their investigation, which he has not received.
Paul Andy Gomez, managing director of Grant Thornton, said on Sunday, the firm was still working to have the report completed by yesterday but was considering delaying the deadline to accommodate interviews with Moss and Cargill.
“Mr. Gomez told me that they have no questions for Mr. Cargill,” Sears said. “I don’t know how they could be doing an investigation and have no questions for Mr. Cargill who is the principal of the investigation and currently serving as director of the National Insurance Board.
“For 20 years I’ve worked with forensic accountants and normally the principal person whom the investigation concerns, you normally give them reasonable notice and you indicate well I want to discuss this thing, the next thing with you.
“I must confess that I am confused by the process being undertaken and I would like for them to indicate to me what matters they wish to interview Mr. Cargill [on], to provide me with their terms of reference so that I know what the boundary of their investigation is.
“It is so elementary I am surprised that they would not have responded to me at least a month ago.”
Sears said depending on what information the auditors give him ahead of the interview he might request more time to prepare his client for questioning.
The Nassau Guardian understands that the audit has been delayed until the end of the week.
By Taneka Thompson
Guardian Senior Reporter