The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

LORETTA Butler-Turner, FNM Deputy leader has demanded a full explanation of the grounds on which the government has approved another forensic audit of the National Insurance Board.

This time, officials will be conducting a probe into the operations of NIB’s National Prescription Drug Plan which was launched in 2010, The Tribune can confirm.

However, Mrs Butler-Turner questioned why more NIB contribution funds are to be spent after $861,606 had already been spent on a forensic audit into allegations made by fired Board Chairman Gregory Moss and former Director Algernon Cargill against each other. Rowena Bethel has been selected to fill the director’s post, The Tribune understands.

“Exactly what are they looking for that they didn’t pick up in the forensic audit that just wrapped up recently?” Mrs Butler-Turner asked.

“I would be very interested in knowing why we are being so reckless with the spending of NIB money because it seems like all of its money is going towards audits. 

“Now we are going back  for another one. Minister Gibson needs to make clear what the parameters are for this audit and what they are trying to find out and this should be articulated to the Bahamian people.”

Attempts were made to contact NIB and Labour Minister Shane Gibson, but he did not respond.

The previous audit, conducted by the government contracted firm of Grant Thornton Bahamas was released and turned over to the House of Parliament almost two months ago.

That probe, which took nearly four months to complete, November 30 to March 24, found that bonuses appeared to have been inflated and also highlighted the need for amended laws to govern the nation’s social security net.

An investigation was ordered after a letter written by Mr Moss was published on the internet outlining why Mr Cargill should be terminated as NIB’s chief.