The Tribune

THE opposition Free National Movement is claiming that “mass firings” have taken place at the Ministry of Finance.

Peter Turnquest, shadow minister of finance, issued a statement yesterday claiming the ministry’s Business License Unit sacked more than 20 employees on Friday.

“These latest terminations by the government are another in a long list of firing of persons employed within the public sector in varying capacities since the PLP returned to office in May 2012,” Mr Turnquest said.

“The FNM is informed that this mass firing is of persons who were on contract, but whose contracts have come to an end.”

Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis dismissed the FNM’s claims saying that the opposition is fully aware that all of those contracts have come to an end and no one is being laid off.

“We had some people who had been engaged on contracts from 2011 and 2012. All of these contracts have expired. For ease of administration we are allowing all of the contracts to expire and we will re-engage some of the individuals based on the need of the departments. Most of these individuals were attached to the business license units. All individuals were paid in accordance with their contracts, including in some cases the payment of gratuity at the conclusion of the contracts,” he said.

But Mr Turnquest said this move would not be an issue for the FNM, except for the fact that the functions performed by these persons are still very important – and in some cases essential – to the ongoing efficient operations of units within the ministry.

“Additionally, information reaching us suggests that some select persons have been given a commitment that they will be re-engaged. Serious questions arise as to the government’s true motives,” he said.

“Months ago while in Trinidad at an international meeting, Minister of State for Finance, Michael Halkitis, gave a speech suggesting that the size of government needed to be reduced.

“On returning to the Bahamas he never gave a satisfactory answer to the question as to whether there was in fact an undisclosed plan to reduce the size of government without any public declaration to that effect.

“Given the report of firings from the Business License Unit and Prime Minister Christie’s recent statements that ‘I must have something in mind by the way in which I have spoken’ about Bahamasair, the national airline, the opposition, Bahamasair employees and members of the public service at large are left to wonder if there is a secret workforce reduction plan and who is next?”

Mr Turnquest noted that at a time when private sector organisations have been discretely laying off workers due to lacklustre economic activity, government mass firings of people who work in entry-level to mid-level jobs is a major cause for concern.

“Quite frankly, the FNM’s position is that the prudent step for the government would be to hold the line on public employment levels for a while longer, especially if — as the present case suggests — there is meaningful work for the people to do,” he said.

“It further goes without saying that any mass firing by this administration is immediately met with a considerable amount of suspicion because of the PLP’s record of targeting suspected FNM supporters who hold jobs.

“At the same time that the Christie government is terminating entry and junior level workers who we expect need their incomes, there are press reports that the government is completing talks with yet another set of foreign consultants to advise them on national health insurance implementation.”

Reports have indicated that the government is seeking to engage both a healthcare company and an accounting firm to advise them about how to implement national health insurance.

According to Mr Turnquest, such a move would not be money well spent.

Instead of keeping average Bahamians employed, he said, the government seems prepared to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions of dollars, to study how they can impose yet another tax on the public.

“The new health charge would be in addition to passed-along new bank fees, customs levies and VAT. Given the considerable level of new and impending taxes already announced, the new health charge seems highly unlikely to fly.

“This begs the question of whether the administration should spend money on the high-priced consultants at this time? The FNM would keep people employed.”

John Pinder, Public Service Union president, last night said he understands that the people in question were a part of a two year programme that came to an end.

However, he agreed that they were filling substantive posts and were needed in the public service.

Mr Pinder said that 90 per cent of the fired persons were very productive.

“They are saying that they can’t find the money to keep these Bahamians employed. The government needs to stop playing games with the collection of government revenue and start taxing these webshops they are loosing millions of dollars each year,” he said.