Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts has taken the Free National Movement (FNM) to task for what he calls their mistreatment of former National Insurance Board executives, notably the late Dr. Baldwin Carey who recently passed away.
In a statement, Mr. Roberts singled out Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis who was a colleague of Dr. Carey while the pair worked in medicine.
“This past Friday morning I attended the home going service of well-known giant in obstetrics and gynecology, and Public Health Dr. Baldwin William Carey at Christ Church Cathedral. I joined his family and friends in giving thanks to Almighty God for his life, service and witness,” Mr. Roberts said.
“Dr. Carey’s last assignment was as a consultant at the National Insurance Board and was one of three executives that was given a terse letter to immediately procced with taking one month’s vacation and not to enter any NIB premises during their vacation period.
“I was told that Dr. Carey was shocked and deeply saddened by the contents and directive in the letter. More than two months have elapsed and there has not been an announcement of the future of the two remaining executives.
“I looked around during the funeral service to see if Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, a long time fellow specialist, was in attendance but he was not. I then asked myself why Prime Minister Minnis would not attend Dr. Carey’s funeral, which led me to ask who gave the instructions to treat Dr. Carey and the other two executives in such a disgraceful and disrespectful manner and why.”
Mr. Roberts would also go on to insinuate that the FNM’s treatment of Dr. Carey may have possibly played a role in his demise.
“Did the disgraceful action of this FNM government contribute to the unexpected demise of Dr. Baldwin William Carey?” Mr. Roberts said.
“This is reminiscent of the unceremonious summary dismissal of several employees at the Bahamas Information Services shortly after the 2007 election victory of the FNM. The casualties: Luther Smith, Earlin Williams, Al Dilette and Dudley Byfield. The motivation for the summary dismissal could only have been political. As fate would have it, Dudley departed this life shortly thereafter.
“We must find a way as a country to move beyond the divisiveness of politics in nation building and certainly in public administration. The priority of any incoming government must be the continuity and stability of the public service. These public officers are tasked with executing the policies of the government of the day and those agencies must not only be, but must seem to be neutral at all material times.
“Dr. Carey played an important role in the implementation of NHI and in protecting NIB and its revenue against fraud and shrinkage from unscrupulous individuals in the filing of medical and industrial injury claims.
“Dr. Carey was not a politician. He was never in the public domain bashing the policies of the FNM while enjoying a big fat government consultancy the way Dr. Duane Sands did for many years. It never occurred to the PLP to spite Dr. Duane Sands in the manner the current FNM government is behaving. They are a disgrace and have much to answer for.”
In May, Cecile Williams-Bethel, NIB senior deputy director of operations, Theresa Burrows, NIB senior deputy director of business support and administration, Deputy Director of IT Raymond Wells – and Dr. Carey were all given letters asking them to take their vacations effective May 30.
Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis at the time condemned the actions against the board’s employees.
