The Nassau Guardian
Christie decries double-dipping
Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday the government will "outlaw" double-dipping but did not confirm when it would happen.
"Yes, it must be outlawed as quickly as possible," he told reporters yesterday. "That's the first point, but it's a process, and we want to conform with best practices in the process. But there's no doubt whatsoever about the results that we are trying to achieve or intend to achieve."
On Tuesday, Executive Chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) Leslie Miller said the government has decided that employees from all government corporations and departments will no longer be able to collect their full salaries and National Insurance sick pay benefits, effective March 1, 2014.
Christie’s confirmation comes as the government says it is moving to improve its finances generally.
"The government obviously is aware of the fact that double-dipping is against the law," he said. "Let's put it this way, making more money when you're sick than when you're healthy is a contradiction.
"So the government has been taking steps to deal with this issue. I don't know what Leslie Miller said, but when you hear it from the minister of finance you'll know it's gospel."
When asked specifically when the practice will be brought to an end, Christie repeated, "When you hear it from the minister of finance, you'll know it's gospel."
The issue of double-dipping first caught national attention after Miller said in a previous statement that he would put an end to the practice at BEC in November.
However, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, who has ministerial responsibility for BEC, later announced that the status quo
would remain until the government and BEC unions address the issue.
Miller told The Nassau Guardian ending double-dipping would save the government in excess of $10 million annually.
“BEC is one of the leaders,” he said. “Last year, it [paid] $1.56 million (in sick pay). So over 10 years you’re looking at over $15 million in excess money that is paid for nothing.”
He said one BEC employee who had a base salary of $38,000 took home an extra $14,000 in sick pay.
Miller added that there was a total of 900 people who were double-dipping and about 300 who did it on a continual basis.
“You get sick, you come here (BEC), and you get your money. You go to the National Insurance Board (NIB), and you get your money. Nobody ever checked. That’s why the system is so inept. That’s why this corporation is losing so much money. There is so much wastage that nobody pays any attention to.”
Miller and officials of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) have been at odds over the double-dipping issue for weeks, and the union had threatened strike action if the sick pay benefit was removed from employees’ pay in November.
On Wednesday, BEWU President Stephano Greene said he had no issue with the decision if it is applied to all government entities.
Miller said BEC can ill afford to waste money as it stands to lose an estimated $26 million this year.
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