And the corporate governance of the Social Security Board is also going through a slight change - or is it?
On Friday, The Prime Minister wrote to the NTUCB President to inform him that he is going to re-appoint their director, Patrick Balan for another year to the Social Security Board of Directors.
Now, Balan has been appointed twice before and had served 4 years on the board. So, when the NTUCB had its AGM over the weekend, it went ahead and elected its own director-designate, Clifford Martinez - thus ignoring the Prime Minster's declaration. We asked the President about it this afternoon:
Jules Vasquez
"You received a letter from the prime minister urging you to operate in a certain way."
Luke Martinez, President, NTUCB
"Man, you are toppa toppa journalist indeed."
Jules Vasquez
"I'm just saying what I heard, brother."
Luke Martinez, President, NTUCB
"Yeah well, each of us have our own rights within our office and so the national trade union congress does have its rights that are stipulated in the social security act which affords us that opportunity to nominate someone from the national trade union congress and that is what we did. So we submitted that letter yesterday."
Jules Vasquez
"The prime minister, I am told he indicated in his letter that he wants a certain director Balan to remain on the board."
Luke Martinez, President, NTUCB
"Jules, lots of us wants a lot of things, right or wrong?"
Jules Vasquez
"Is the prime minister within his rights to make that request of the NTUCB, to make that request of you?"
Luke Martinez, President, NTUCB
"Ask him that."
Jules Vasquez
"But it's not something that you all complied with, I gather."
Luke Martinez, President, NTUCB
"You are correct."
Jules Vasquez
"So you all will have a new representative on the social security board?"
Luke Martinez, President, NTUCB
"Yes, and I am confident that the prime minister is going to respect our request."
So, now, it is left to be seen if PM Briceno will accept the NTUCB nomination and rescind Balan's appointment - or if he will ignore the NTUCB - and what will come out of that. We'll be watching closely.
