The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE much anticipated forensic audit report that examined the National Insurance Board’s operations dating back to 2003 contains shocking revelations, claimed NIB Minister Shane Gibson yesterday.

Although Mr Gibson admitted that he has not got very far in reading the hundreds of pages of the reports, he said already the findings were far worse than he imagined.

And without getting into specifics he suggested that the audit proved it was apparent that certain individuals abused their positions of influence. Mr Gibson did not say to whom he referred.

Two audit reports compiled by government- contracted Grant Thornton Bahamas were handed over to Mr Gibson on Sunday after four months of investigations. The reports were ordered after allegations were made in a “confidential” letter that resulted in the firing of Board Chairman Gregory Moss and the suspension of Director Algernon Cargill. The allegations, made by Mr Moss against Mr Cargill, were contained in a letter written to Minister Gibson by Mr Moss. The information was “leaked” on the Internet.

“I had a chance to have a brief look at it,” Mr Gibson said of the forensic audit. “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.

“Hopefully after we have had a chance to have it properly scrutinised and I receive advice from my colleagues and the Attorney General (Allyson Maynard-Gibson) in short order we could be making decisions.

“One thing that is very apparent in the the report is that some individuals thought that their position gave them more authority than it did.”

While the Minister said it is not yet known if the findings have suggested that criminal action be taken, the government will certainly have to look into how the Board is run. The Attorney General’s office is expected to review the report and decide on a way forward.

“Based on what I see we have to look at amending our operational policies and procedures. We need some clear guidelines as to the levels of authority and we need to make it clear as to who would have individual authority versus the board having authority.

“We’ll have to review all of those things and make sure that at the end of the day National Insurance is able to respond to the needs of those who contribute in years to come.”

In November 2012, a 22-page letter written by Mr Moss containing serious allegations against Mr Cargill was leaked and circulated on the Internet. A forensic audit of NIB was ordered in the weeks that followed.

Mr Cargill was later suspended pending the outcome of the audit. He filed a law suit against NIB and Mr Moss.

Not long afterwards Mr Moss was fired as NIB Board Chairman by Prime Minister Perry Christie when he refused to step down.