NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government is still in discussion over whether it will extend its unemployment benefits program for workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Cabinet was expected to discuss the matter yesterday.
Minister of Public Service and NIB Brensil Rolle told reporters that “whatever decision is taken about the extension will be a collective decision by the government.”
Rolle noted that the government has already spent millions of dollars on the NIB program, along with food and assistance programs that have been made available.
“We are mindful of what the situation is,” he said.
“We are concerned about the people of The Bahamas and we are taking steps to ensure we provide income support as well as food and necessary supplies for the Bahamian people.”
In March, the government launched an unemployment benefits program to assist workers impacted by the ongoing global pandemic, which has seen a worldwide spread of a contagious and deadly coronavirus.
The government also funded a special extension of unemployment benefits for unemployed persons who had exhausted their standard NIB benefit.
That program is expected to come to an end soon.
Rolle noted however that there still remains a number of unclaimed checks at the Thomas Robinson Stadium for individuals who were eligible.
“There are many many checks that have been unclaimed for various reasons,” he said.
“We’ve been encouraging and we’ve been calling individuals to say to them, your check is ready.
“Some people perhaps got frustrated or do not want to come out in this environment to pick up a check”.
Rolle explained that the programs that the government had initially approved had to be diverted in order to fund the unemployment program.
Earlier this month, Finance Minister Peter Turnquest advised that some $146 million has been poured into the domestic economy via unemployment assistance and that the National Insurance Board (NIB) had directly paid out some $93 million.
The government had previously announced that some 42 out of 58 agencies will see a reduction in their budgetary allocations this year.
The government also undertook the suspension of increments to permanent and pensionable civil servants, salary increases, and deferred salary increases attendant to promotion exercises until they could get a handle on the pandemic.
Rolle yesterday sought to address the recent hiring of a new consultant at NIB, after the move sparked furor and vitriol in some circles on social media.
Last week, a flyer was circulated congratulating Gabrielle McKenzie on her new position at the institution.
The news of the hiring immediately sparked social media attacks towards McKenzie’s possible salary and her qualifications. Her purported resume was also subsequently circulated online.
“What has been published in social media is not accurate,” Rolle said.
“It’s really a sad thing that we have taken for granted everything that has come out and the young talented individual who is at NIB, who is making the same salary that a normal person would make when they apply for a job based on her experience and qualifications has to go through this has and has to endure this kind of unnecessary propaganda.
“…I think it’s totally wrong for a political organization to target young individuals who have the talent and who are working and who need to work. It is strange that we have come to this space.”
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