FNM leader Michael Pintard and National Insurance Board Minister Alfred Sears.
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement (FNM) leader Michael Pintard said National Insurance Board Minister Alfred Sears should resign or be fired if he misled Parliament about increases in NIB contribution rates.
Mr Sears announced last week that rates would increase by 1.5 per cent on July 1.
Although he initially said contribution rates would increase by 1.5 per cent every two years for the next 20 years, the Office of the Prime Minister later reversed this commitment.
Mr Pintard said yesterday: “According to press reports, the Prime Minister indicated that the government never approved the 20-year plan of rate increases by NIB that the minister for NIB, Alfred Sears, claimed was the government’s policy to commence July 2024. So, by that admission, the prime minister is stating that Minister Sears misled the Bahamian people with his statement on the House floor.
“If this is so, then Minister Sears must tender his resignation or be fired.”
Mr Pintard also noted Mr Sears’ silence on the situation, saying: “Perhaps Davis' failure to act may actually mean that the prime minister himself is misleading the public when he claims that he and his Cabinet did not authorise the 20 years of NIB increases.”
Mr Pintard said the government’s failure to call for his resignation shows they “have no understanding of or respect for the basic principles and conventions of our system of government”.
Former NIB Minister Brensil Rolle said yesterday that Mr Sears likely got approval from Cabinet to announce the 20 years of increases.
“It is inconceivable that a minister would go and say we’re going to tax the Bahamian people for 20 years without getting clearance," he said.
"So that gives me the impression that the prime minister is not telling the truth and therefore, that’s why Alfred Sears has not been asked to resign.”
Former State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Myles Laroda revealed last year that government agencies owed NIB $8m.
Mr Rolle believes the government should have paid NIB what it was owed before announcing increases to the contribution rate.
“I think the reasonable thing to is to make an attempt to collect the outstanding fees owed to the board,” he said. “That’s the first thing. You can’t have individuals and companies owing NIB millions of dollars and not paying and not even attempting to collect that and saying we going to increase.”
“Our position was the government must set its example by ensuring that any monies owed to NIB was paid and we tried to collect those monies at the end of the budget year."
“Desmond Bannister was the minister that made sure the ministry or the department that owed NIB funds were paid to the government directly. We reached out to other agencies and they were beginning to pay. We’ve reached out to some companies and threatened them and promised to take them to court. Some of them paid but a substantial amount of them still did not pay.”
Comments
CaptainCoon 8 months, 3 weeks ago
To be fair, Sears mislead the public on BPL as well!
Can't trust these troglodytes! DRAIN THE SWAMP! SAD!
birdiestrachan 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Mr Pintard appears not to be well he flings his hands who is sitting next to him can very well get hell knocked out of them what does he have against Mr sears pintard can not even drag Mr sears old shoes he is not asking Mr Gibson to resign
John 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Is it Sears who needs to be fired or The PM who needs to resign? Because firstly, if Sears misspoke and misled the house and in this ninth hour then the PM is leading a government that is grossly incompetent. Neither companies or smaller businesses or even self employed individuals are waiting around with large chunks ( or gunks) of money waiting for a NIB increase. Some businesses may have to adjust their profit margins or income stream to accumulate funds to pay this increase, especially if they have a chain of food stores ir fast food restaurants or even hotel workers where the increase can amount to thousands of dollars a month. And NIB now has ads running, telling businesses and the work force to be prepared for an increase in NIB contributions come June. And if there is an increase, does it not have to be a part of a structured PLAN where NIB’s expenses does not continue to outpace its revenue. But the public should understand. Not only has Davis been running his administration on deficit spending, but INCREASED deficit spending. So is Davis now interfering in the portfolio and responsibilities of a cabinet minister?
Honestman 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Sears has done nothing wrong. He laid out a plan that was obviously approved by Cabinet. The Prime Minister has back tracked presumably due to some negative noise coming from his supporters. Too near election time to be truthful and frank to the electorate.! The PM has completely pulled the rug from under his minister and will of course blame it on a communication error. Please!!!
sheeprunner12 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Sears created the House rules ............. he likes to jump up and try to explain the rules to the dumb Speaker every time that it is "violated" by the Opposition.
Now, it is time for him to apply the rules to himself ........ Or the PM
birdiestrachan 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Did you hear cartwright say there was not a security meeting or the doc say he had evidence but he would not say who the person was remember OBAn Pintard them hands filthy dirty they want to win an election at any cause it has nothing to do with anything else they should remember those boulders they put across a public road and caused a young woman life
birdiestrachan 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Remember when they had some one forge some one else signature and they called the press to witness OBAn they should have gone to jail not just resign
Dawes 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Ahh good old birdie, always justifying doing wrong by saying the other side did wrong too. Congrats on ensuring Bahamas continues its decline.
TalRussell 8 months, 3 weeks ago
I'd wager 3 bottles of [Sands Beer] that Comrades Pintard, Minnis and their band of RedCoats, will fall silent. --- No longer demanding that judges, --- Must impose - mandatory ['No Bail'] Fox Hill Prison jail time for those [awaiting charges] for [Gun Crimes]. --- Yes?
John 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Can you change the wager to Kalik
TalRussell 8 months, 3 weeks ago
I just shouldn't.. --- [Sands Beer] is really [thaat good] and [its locally owned]. --- Yes?
hrysippus 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Crab in it minister Alfred Sears, Often leaves me quite in tears. Are they tears of mirth or tears of woe? It is ofttimes very hard to know. In a job requiring honourable intention, And a willingness to follow convention, He appears to fail each every way, If we are to believe what the Prime one say.
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