Kamla wants NIB reports laid in Parliament

OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar called on Finance Minister Colm Imbert on Wednesday to lay the National Insurance Board's (NIB) annual reports for 2019 and 2020 in Parliament.

She made no comment on Imbert's statement in the Senate on Tuesday about a collective agreement reached between the Public Services Association (PSA) and NIB under her former People's Partnership government, which could cost taxpayers $7 billion if implemented.

In a statement, Persad-Bissessar claimed there has been "a complete collapse" of the NIB over the last six years under Imbert. She said the last NIB report laid in Parliament was for 2018, and claimed Imbert has failed to submit the NIB reports for 2019 and 2020, which should have been submitted in November of those years.

She alleged this was an example of "a lack of accountability and transparency regarding the governance of state institutions" under the PNM.

On Tuesday, Imbert said, "The agreement was not authorised as required by the directions given by the Minister of Finance through the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Finance to the chairman of the NIB on March 25, 2011."

He indicated this was "at variance with the provisions of section nine of the National Insurance Act," the matter is being actively investigated and he expects to receive a report from the NIB on this matter in due course.