The Tribune

THE “shocking” audit into the National Insurance Board’s operations has still not been released to the public and there have been no official indications of when it will be.

The audit is expected to shed more light on what took place in the months leading up to the leaking of allegations against suspended NIB director Algernon Cargill, who later filed an affidavit making counter claims.

National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson did not respond to messages inquiring about the status of the audit and asking whether the government has a time-line for when the information will be released.

Last week, Mr Gibson told the press that only a select few, including himself, Prime Minister Perry Christie and Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, had so far scrutinised the findings.

Responding to claims by a tabloid website that the audit had been leaked and contained some scandalous revelations, Mr Gibson said: “Nobody has gotten the document to date except maybe three or four individuals. I have not seen anything anywhere that would suggest that any information came out of the documents that I have in my possession.

“Right now, we are in the process of having them reviewed and as soon as we have completed our review and received our legal advice, then of course we would at some point in time release them.

“I couldn’t tell you for sure when it will be released but I can say it absolutely, it will be released.”

According to Mr Gibson, officials want to ensure the reports are examined thoroughly by the government before being disseminated.

Last month, Mr Gibson had said of the audit: “I had a chance to have a brief look at it. I started to read it last night and as far as I am concerned it’s shocking to me. It’s even worse than I thought it was going to be.”