Although he listed his occupation on his declaration form as an educator, Free National Movement (FNM) North Abaco candidate Greg Gomez admitted yesterday that he is currently unemployed, was unemployed for all of 2011, and the $28,000 he declared as his salary actually represents the "love offerings" he received from ministering at various churches. In an interview with The Nassau Guardian, Gomez said initially that he could not remember the names of the schools he taught at in the United States.
But he later called back and provided the names of three schools. Gomez also corrected a previous statement in which he said he also taught in The Bahamas. Additionally, he confirmed that he made no National Insurance Board payments last year. He returned to The Bahamas in August 2011. He said while he has no full time job, he is still a minister receiving love offerings. "I minister in church, as a preacher," Gomez said. "I preach at different places, so when I preach they would collect what we call a love offering for me.
So some churches you go to you might receive $1,200, you might receive $200 or you might receive $3,000...or $500. "So that's what I did. I'm a minister of the gospel and that's how I take care of my family, by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ." Asked directly if he is employed, Gomez said, "I am not employed. I'm still a minister. I still have speaking engagements. I still speak other places, and that's what I do. By profession, I am an educator and a minister." Gomez also said, "I have taught before. I have taught for my local church organization.
In fact, I have been teaching for my local church organization here on the island." When asked what schools he taught at, he said, "I have taught in various places." Pressed on the matter, he said, "I've taught in the United States and I've taught in The Bahamas." Gomez was then asked again to name the schools where he taught. "I can't name them at this time," he responded. "I am currently working as a minister. That's the only thing I have for income at this time.' After several long pauses, Gomez said, "I will get the information to you."
When he called back to provide additional information to The Nassau Guardian, he said he taught business administration and other courses including math and computer science at Carol City Middle School for two years, Lawton Chiles Middle School for two years and at Thomas Jefferson Middle School for about a year in the Miami Dade County Public Schools district. Gomez also said he could not say for certain how long he has been out of the country as he could not remember, but he knows it was "several years".
When asked if it was hard for him to sell himself as an unemployed candidate, Gomez said,"It's not hard for me to sell myself. "I am selling myself to the people of Abaco. This is not a concern to them. "The people of Abaco love me and the people of Abaco support me. The people of Abaco, they are not concerned about how long I've been outside The Bahamas. All they are concerned about is that I am going to give them the best representation."
JOB PROGRAM
Gomez also maintained that he was appointed assistant administrator at the Marsh Harbour administrator's office.However, he previously claimed that he was appointed administrator. Government documents from the administrator's office in Marsh Harbour confirm that Gomez reported to work in the administrator's office on April 30. In a letter dated May 3, Marsh Harbour Administrator Cephas Cooper wrote the permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister saying, "This communication serves to advise that Mr. Greg Deon Gomez, assistant administrator, reported for duty on Monday, April 30, 2012, at the Marsh Harbour Administrator's Office." Gomez, however, was also listed on the 52-week job program on May 7, the date of the general election. However, he insisted yesterday that it was the Christie administration that placed him on the job program so that he could get paid for his work as an assistant administrator.
Gomez said he did not know why the document from the financial secretary listed him on the program during the week of May 7. "You need to ask all the persons involved in this," he said, referring to relevant government authorities. "I think that's something that you'd have to ask [the financial secretary]." That document listed Gomez as a construction worker. He insisted yesterday that he never asked to be placed on the 52-week program. "They had to find some way to compensate me and because of government bureaucracy the only way they could find to accommodate me was to allow me to go on the 52-week job program," Gomez said.
"It was not my intention to work on the 52-week program. "My intention of signing that was basically for them to give me some type of compensation because I have a wife and three kids." It was unclear when Gomez started the 52-week job program, but Christie administration officials deny placing him on the program. In a statement yesterday, Acting FNM Chairman Darron Cash said that after the general election, with the paperwork having not been received, and wanting to give Mr. Gomez some compensation, Administrator Cooper placed him on the 52-week program."
In a letter addressed to Administrator Cooper on July 6, 2012, Gomez resigned from the program. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the prospect afforded me to work within the office of the administrator under the 52 week program," he wrote. "My experience was enlightening, insightful and very rewarding." But Gomez has claimed that he was victimized by the new PLP government. He claimed he was fired from his position as an administrator. NIB payments were made for Gomez by a plumbing company in February, and the for the months of May, June and July while he was on the 52-week job program, according to NIB records. Prior to that, no contributions were made since 2000.
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