The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

The new NIB director could fill the post as early as next week as the government moves to negotiate a contract of employment with the frontrunner, according to Labour Minister Shane Gibson.

While he could not speak to any possible changes in salary for the top post, Mr Gibson confirmed that the government will seek to overhaul compensation scales for executives in all government corporations.

Mr Gibson said: “I think what we’ll do is we will review the entire process and review compensation with all executives in government corporations and then of course work on a formula as to how we can go about having it more in line with where we’d like to see it.

“Unfortunately we can’t unilaterally change individual’s terms and conditions of employment, so once you have hired them on one set of terms and conditions it can only be changed by agreement with both parties.

“Once we have a complete review of it, we will make a decision I guess collectively as to where we go from here.”

Mr Gibson said: “We have already completed the process of identifying the person who we would like to see be the next director of National Insurance. Unfortunately, we have not sat down and begun the process of negotiating a contract of employment with the person and so as soon as that is done which will hopefully be between now and next week we hope to have the new director in post before the end of the next week.”

The leading role was left vacant less than a month ago after Mr Cargill was terminated from the post he held for around four years following a row with former NIB chairman Gregory Moss, who was later fired.

Although officials remain tight-lipped, The Tribune understands that a former senior employee has emerged as the front runner to fill the post.

Rowena Bethel, former legal officer at NIB, was among four persons interviewed by the Board of Directors, according to inside sources.

After several years at NIB, Ms Bethel worked in the financial services sector, drafting and finalising Tax Information Exchange Agreements.