The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net 

PRIME Minister Perry Christie has ordered an investigation into the “major fight” at the National Insurance Board after two lawsuits were filed against its chairman – one of them filed by Director Algernon Cargill following his suspension from the Board.

The investigation will determine what “course of action” he should take, Mr Christie said yesterday, including any possible disciplinary action against Chairman Gregory Moss.

The report, which will be done by National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson, will look into the claims brought against Mr Moss by Director Algernon Cargill in the latter’s Supreme Court suit and the claims brought against Mr Cargill in a letter written by Mr Moss.

“I have asked for a report from the Minister with respect to NIB,” Mr Christie said. “As you know, we had a current situation with respect to the request for a forensic audit with respect to the letter that was written by the chairman. Now, there have been counter allegations and so I just asked for a full report on it.”

Mr Moss’ letter prompted the suspension of Mr Cargill pending the results of a “forensic audit.”

As a result of the allegations brought against him in that letter and his subsequent suspension, Mr Cargill filed an action in the Supreme Court against Mr Moss and NIB – in turn bringing his own allegations against Mr Moss.

“When matters are before a court of law, one has to be very careful how one arrives at conclusions because only a court can arrived at the truth of the matter but I’ve asked for a report, nonetheless, from the minister responsible,” Mr Christie said.

“I expect to get that and then once I get that, that will enable me to determine whether I should meet with the chairman for a discussion and any kind of results that will come from that discussion.”

Significant concerns “obviously exist” in NIB, the Prime Minister said, which amounts to a “negative inference” to be drawn about the Board.

“That’s what I’m concerned about,” he continued. “When you have a major fight and an institution is subjected to this major fight, then there is a certain course of action that people should take with respect to that so the institution does not have to continue to experience any fall-out from it.”

“You can expect me to meet with the Minister, to meet with my MP - Mr Gregory Moss, with a view to determining the steps that I should take, if any, in this matter that is now before the courts,” Mr Christie said.

The questions would be, Mr Christie said, whether or not NIB as an institution “ought to be subjected to that kind of dispute” – a dispute that needs a court of law to settle it.

“The minister will have a discussion with me so I’m in the best position as Prime Minister to determine whether or not there is a course of action that I should take as Prime Minister. Whether or not there is a course of action that I should expect the chairman to take, whether or not there is a course of action the Minister ought to take in the circumstances,” he said.

When asked if Mr Moss will be facing any disciplinary action in view of Mr Cargill’s suit and a second lawsuit in which he is being sued for $400,000, Mr Christie said: “I don’t know the nature of this. You know, when it rains it pours.

“Whether some people who feel that this is a good time to embarrass him have decided to do so – these are matters I have no idea about. The headlines were brought to my attention this morning. This is what I put to inquiry and I’ll find out exactly what it’s all about and will be able to speak intelligently about it in due course.”