The Tribune

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

DAYS before the May 10 general election, the former Christie administration added an addendum to the contractual agreement of a high-ranking Bridge Authority executive outlining no fixed termination date and specifying there was to be no less than three years’ notice in the event of termination, The Tribune can reveal.

The contract is worth nearly $100,000.

Upon discovering that this kind of contract exists, which effectually binds the government to an agreement it may find unfavourable and pricey, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis ordered an investigation across government agencies to unearth how many more of these kinds of “unusual arrangements” exist.

While confirming this to The Tribune, the prime minister said he was “deeply disturbed and annoyed” by the practice. He hinted the government was seeking to cancel the contract, charging that anyone who feels the Minnis administration is wrong can “take us to court.”

“If any government is allowed to get away with something like this, where is the fairness in democracy? How is it acceptable to essentially contract someone to work for the government for life? It’s like they tried to contract people for life,” Dr Minnis said.

Works Minister Desmond Bannister, who is responsible for the Bridge Authority, refused to speak on the issue, telling this newspaper he did not want to say anything because it was a “very sensitive matter.” He insisted that if anything must be said, it was the prime minister who should do the talking.

According to documents obtained by The Tribune, on April 20, 2017, the addendum was added and signed to supplement a contract of employment for the executive, which was dated January 7, 2013.

The addendum read: “…Employer shall employ employee in the capacity set forth commencing January 7, 2013 and continuing with no fixed termination date, until either party shall give proper notice of termination of this employment agreement to the other. “The notice shall be no less than three years’ notice.

“If the board wishes to terminate this agreement for any other reason outside the terms of the employee agreement, the employee shall be compensated in accordance with the terms of this contract along with any pecuniary benefits that the employee was entitled to.

“In the event any conflict arises between the provisions of this contract and any other document issued by the board providing for terms and conditions applicable to employees of the board, the provisions of this contract shall prevail,” the addendum continued.

This addition was supported by terms in the original contract on January 7, 2013 specifying that this agreement was to continue indefinitely until either party gives notice to the other.

If the government follows through with cancelling this contract, it would not be the first time something of this nature took place since the Minnis administration came to office.

Back in November, Dr Minnis tabled documents in the House of Assembly, which revealed that about two weeks before the general election, the former Christie administration renewed Sir Baltron Bethel’s contract as a senior policy advisor and consultant in the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Tourism, agreeing to pay him $800,000 over a four-year period.

When this contract was compared with an earlier three-year contract dated May 19, 2015 and effective May 14, 2015, no justification for a salary increase was apparent. The 2015 agreement showed the former advisor was initially to be paid $140,000 for the same duties outlined in the new 2017 contract.

This contract, Dr Minnis told Parliament, in addition to contracts of two others would not be honoured, adding they could “take me to court” over the agreements.

In response, Sir Baltron said he expected the contracts to be honoured.

During his first televised address last July, Dr Minnis said: “There will be no renewal of contracts for emoluments which exceed $100,000 per year. To further reduce expenditure, we will reduce the number of government vehicles. Unlike the former head of government, I will be extraordinarily more vigilant in ensuring that my ministers adhere to their budgets and to financial constraints.”

Since then, Press Secretary Anthony Newbold has admitted the Minnis administration hired people on contracts worth more than $100,000 per year.

Asked about the prime minister’s comments from his televised address, Mr Newbold said in a statement to The Tribune last month it does not mean the new administration won’t hire people above such a threshold.

“The government is systematically reviewing all the human resources needs, particularly the significant number of consultants hired by the former administration,” Mr Newbold said. “Unless there is a demonstrated need––and the person has the commensurate skill set that underlies their salary––the government is not renewing their contracts. Yes, the government has in exceptional cases hired persons and consultants at that level since taking office. These are in places where there is a clear need and market rate for the talent is simply at a premium level.”