By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

FNM chairman Darron Cash has questioned why NIB is no closer to determining whether Mr Cargill should be re-instated or terminated from his post.

National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson confirmed to The Tribune the audit cost $861,000 and had also confirmed to this newspaper that Mr Cargill met with the National Insurance Board over “concerns” the board had.

In light of this, Mr Cash said: “There was a forensic report done. It cost $861,000. The board of the organization has reviewed this report, they have met with Mr Cargill and after five hours or whatever the time that they met with him – plus deliberated for five hours, we are still not in a position to determine whether he ought to be removed from his position.

“It would seem to me on that basis alone, it has not appeared to be a smoking gun, an unequivocal clear cut, no shades of grey, justification for Minister (Shane) Gibson squandering the people’s money in that way. That is the impression that I get from what has transpired up to this point.”

Mr Cash classified the exercise as a “monumental waste” of time and resources.

Opposition Leader Hubert Minnis also spoke on the audit, hitting out at – what he called – the “inefficiencies” of the government for not providing the opposition with a copy of the tabled audit.

The government did not have adequate copies, Dr Minnis said, therefore, the FNM will have to wait until copies are printed out and distributed.

“We didn’t even get it yet,” he said. “That shows how disorganized they are. They had one copy.

“Ordinarily when we were in, we made sure we brought sufficient for everybody so that they get it right then. (National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson) brought one copy which means they have to print them; so we wouldn’t get them until probably next week. Just how inefficient they are.”