CENTRAL and South Abaco MP John Pinder says it is "shameful" there remain duties unfulfilled in storm ravaged Abaco while the former managing director of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority took home an "extravagant" salary.
Details of former DRA Managing Director Katherine Forbes-Smith’s salary came to light this week after she filed a lawsuit against the government for allegedly breaching her contract after her termination from the role last year.
According to a writ filed in the Supreme Court in December, Mrs Forbes-Smith is suing the DRA for $408,333.16 for that contract breach along with other allowances.
Yesterday, Mr Pinder, who is also Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, said people continue to suffer in Abaco and Grand Bahama despite the disaster of Hurricane Dorian occurring more than two years ago.
Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Myles Laroda said in his view the matter was “sub judice” and he did not want to go into specifics about the case.
However, he said since the termination of the former Senate president, the salary of her replacement was reduced to less than half of that amount.
“My take on Kay Forbes-Smith’s salary and the lack of duties fulfilled is, it’s shameful,” Mr Pinder said. “To then sue the government for the extent of her contract when there’s still Abaconians and Grand Bahamians in dire need and could really use the help for almost half a million dollars.
“So, the salary was extravagant and it shows the lack of compassion for the Bahamian people really,” he claimed.
The contract’s terms were that the DRA agreed to pay Mrs Forbes-Smith an annual salary of $110,000 in monthly installments of $9,166.66 and an annual housing allowance of $30,000 in monthly instalments of $2,500.
The contract also stipulated an annual duty allowance of $15,000 in monthly installments of $1,250 and a monthly fuel allowance of $250.
At the end of that contract, Mrs Forbes-Smith was entitled to receive a gratuity of 15 percent of the sum received under the contract.
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