Former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas has called for a public inquiry into the recent and sudden resignation of the new chairperson the St Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board, Mauritza Bowry. Bowry was appointed Chairman since the new government took office in February 2015.
Dr Douglas noted that the resignation comes following her apparent refusal to sanction a request by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon. Timothy Harris and Federal Minister of Social Security and Premier of Nevis, Hon Vance Amory for EC$60 million from Social Security funds for housing construction .
“This EC$60 million loan became the center of controversy within the Board, because the authorities were insisting that the EC$60 million be advanced before the houses were built. We understand that the chairman of the Board held the view that the $60 million should not be advanced in a lump sum, but be drawn down as the houses are being built and not before the houses are constructed,” said Dr Douglas on Freedom FM’s “Issues” programme on Wednesday.
Dr Douglas said this bone of contention continued unresolved “until the chairman was forced out of office and forced to resign and the deputy chairman of Social Security then became the acting Chairman of Social Security. He is from Nevis and is the errand boy of Vance Amory and that which was not allowed by the then chairman, has been allowed by the acting chair and the housing programme has been announced.”
Dr Douglas, the Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Assembly said several questions arise.
“Why did the chairman resign on this matter? Why is the Social Security Board being asked by the Government to provide $60 million before the houses are built? Is there any truth that one of the major partners in the companies that are engaged in the construction of these houses involves a family member of Prime Minister Harris? This also smacks of nepotism and the inquiry needs to proceed,” said Dr Douglas.