The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

ACTING Director of the National Insurance Board V Theresa Burrows yesterday confirmed that she was not in the running to hold the position long-term, saying that a permanent replacement for former NIB Director Rowena Bethel could be named in the coming weeks.

In an interview with The Tribune on Monday, Mrs Burrows indicated that the process to select a new director was already underway, however she was unable to offer any specifics on potential candidates.

Last week, Ms Bethel indicated that there were no plans to renew her contract with NIB once it expired on July 3.

She was contracted to replace former chairman Algernon Cargill in 2014.

NIB has reportedly been fraught with rumours of infighting and disagreements among officials in recent weeks.

On Monday, The Nassau Guardian’s National Review suggested that Ms Bethel’s decision to step away from NIB was made only after the government refused to acknowledge her ultimatum to either move forward with her or Senior Deputy Director of Operations Cecile Williams-Bethel.

The Tribune understands that the two have long held disagreements on many issues at NIB.

The government agency is also battling organisational and technical issues over the past few weeks as it works through faults in its new V3 processing system.

In May, NIB officials said “transition issues” emanating from phase two had resulted in “regrettable inconvenience to a number of our valued customers.” At the time, NIB said the greatest impact was being felt by persons seeking disability benefit claims, along with customers seeking short-term benefit claims, such as maternity, sickness, injury and unemployment.

The corporation also noted that issues being met encompassed both “technical matters and organisational culture adjustments.” At the time, NIB said some 30 per cent of its customer base was being negatively affected as a result.

As of Monday, officials at NIB were working on a shortlist of candidates and hoping to name a permanent director by the start of August, a source familiar with the process said.