Meagre salaries despite NLCB’s $300M

Despite $300 million in profits for the past 12 months, the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) stands accused of paying low salaries to its staff members, so much so, that it has been unable to hold on to a financial comptroller for any great length of time.

This was revealed by NLCB officials yesterday before the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Local Authorities, Service Commissions and Statutory Authorities. This was the first time in the NLCB’s 49 year history, that its officials appeared before a JSC. From the information provided on salaries, JSC chairman Hugh Russell Roach said, “it is woefully inadequate to attract really significant and competent people to discharge the functions required by the organisation.”

Roach, who is also an Independent Senator, added that from the discussion, it is “obvious” there is need for a tightening of internal controls and a need for an audit committee, given the fact that the NLCB is dealing with large volumes of cash. With earnings between 2016 and this year of $300 million and $2.9 billion in sales within that period, the NLCB is the most profitable of all statutory bodies.

LOW PAY A TURN-OFF

Chief accountant Leslie Ann said the NLCB had four finance comptrollers over the past four years due to low remuneration. The finance comptroller’s salary is $18,500. This she said, led to the NLCB being unable to submit financial statements for 2013 to 2017, to the Ministry of Finance and Parliament.

John said the financial comptroller who prepared reports and statements up to 2009, left in 2013. The one who took over in 2014, prepared reports and statements up to 2012. In 2015, another who was taken on, left in 2016. Two months ago, Ann said, another finance comptroller was acquired and is now bringing the management letters for 2013 to 2017, up to date, so they can be audited.

“That is the sole cause of reports and financial statements not being up to date,” she said. Yana Mollino, NLCB human resources manager said the issue with retaining a finance comptroller is due to the fact that the last salary was set at $18,500 by the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO).

Mollino said it was a contract position on terms and conditions set by the CPO. The candidate for the post has to be ACCA qualified with five years management experience.

NLCB chairman Marvin Johncilla said although the NLCB is a statutory body, terms and conditions of employment are governed by both the Statutory Authority and Services Commission and the CPO.

WHE WHE GROWING

NLCB deputy director Ricardo Borde said it has had to implement new initiatives to stay competitive against the illegal gambling market which grows everyday. It had to expand its retail market. The mega ball promotion, Borde said, is responsible for increased sales from $2.6 billion last year to about $2.963 billion this year.

The illegal market which operates daily, he said, offers whe whe as though it is the legal play whe.

Borde said, “it is no longer a backyard business. It is now in the open where you can see ‘35 to 1’ and ‘33 to 1’ posted on the doors of businesses offering the whe whe..”

To deal with the threats, he said, NLCB is expanding its gaming network, carrying out awareness campaigns and working with the police to prosecute illegal operators.