By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

WHILE the government has already started its probe into the serious allegations at NIB, Opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis insists that minority parties ought to be given the opportunity to screen independent auditors.

Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, Dr Minnis said the move would not only ensure impartiality, but deepen democracy in the country.

His comments came in response to questions over whether the FNM would petition the government to have a representative sit among those chosen to carry out the forensic audit of NIB’s accounts. Prime Minister Perry Christie announced on Tuesday that all of the allegations that surfaced during the last few weeks would be investigated. 

“The government,” said Dr Minnis, “said the audit is independent, so since it is the FNM would like to see a report when the audit is finished.

“Moving forward, the FNM, well minority parties in general, should have an opportunity to interview these so-called independent auditors.”

He declined comment on other matters saying that the party would speak more when the House of Assembly reconvenes next Wednesday.

Despite Mr Christie’s declaration to get to the bottom of the NIB fiasco by ordering the audit, political pundits are not satisfied.

They believe that while Mr Christie placed Algernon Cargill, NIB’s director on administrative leave pending the outcome of a probe on allegations made against him in a Board report which was leaked, the same fate should have been dealt to Chairman Gregory Moss.

However, Mr Christie has determined that Moss will remain on the job while the audit continues and his activity as Chairman for only a few months is scrutinised.

“I am satisfied that NIB is under no threat as it is now and so far I am concerned that we have now to move forward as aggressively as we can. I have an opportunity as Minister of Finance to look at all the observations that have been made (and) all of the allegations that have been made,”he said.