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“Connecting Purpose, Passion and Performance: Lessons Learned from Festival in the Workplace” The founder of Success Magazine once said that no employer today is independent of those about him. He cannot succeed alone, no matter how great his ability or capital.

“Sparking the Grand Bahama Engine: The NIB Contribution” First of all, I thank and congratulate Joan Albury and The Counsellors Limited on yet another successful Grand Bahama Business Outlook. I am grateful for this structured and convenient way to bring you up-to-date on the performance of our nation’s social security network. I particularly like your theme this year because I believe every Bahamian of goodwill wants to see the economic engine of Grand Bahama turning over and running smoothly again.

The Imperative of Cooperation for the Progress of National Insurance and Business and National Development. Thank you, BICA executives and members for allowing me to participate in this event. Being here allows me to do several things. First, I would like to reflect briefly on the global recession and its impact. Clearly, global and local economic conditions have a direct bearing on the National Insurance Fund and the demands made upon it as part of our country’s social security network.

My first order of business is to congratulate Joan Albury and The Counsellors Limited on organizing this very necessary forum year after year. This is an example of remarkable vision and hard work that yields a national benefit. I thank them for making room for a presentation from the National Insurance Board. It allows me, as director, to give an account of the Board’s stewardship. I’m obligated to reveal how your investment in National Insurance is doing and the dividends shareholders are receiving in terms of benefits and services.

Feedback metrics and more traditional deata helped the National Insurance board of The Bahamas commit to customer service.

My first pleasant duty is to thank you for inviting me as Director of the National Insurance Board to participate in your conference. Occasions such as these allow me to keep members of the community informed of the progress of National Insurance, which is an essential part of my stewardship and accountability.

Sam Walton, founder of the Wal-Mart chain believed that his stores should reflect the values of its customers and support the vision they hold for their community. I believe that the laws we make as a people and the provisions we make for the support and betterment of our community are reflective of the quality of our citizenship and of our characters as individuals. The way a community treats and provides for its most vulnerable members speaks volumes not only of our vision for the collective, but also of our values and of our consciences.

In connection with its National Prescription Drug Programme (NPDP), the National Insurance Board has had another star added to its crown in a year that has already recorded a number of outstanding successes for the Board. NIB has been named a Laureate in the 2011 Computerworld Honors Programme and is being considered for a second even more celebrated honour. The achievements of NIB and other 2011 Laureates will be recognized publicly on Monday, June 20 at a black tie awards ceremony and gala celebration at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. Raymond Wells, Deputy Director, Information Technology will represent NIB at the 2011 event.

For the information of affected persons and the general public, the National Insurance Board wishes to advise that implementation of the July 2010 amendments to the National Insurance Contributions Regulations relative to hotel/hospitality workers, and Pensionable Civil Servants will no longer happen on July 1, 2011, as previously announced; the amendments are now scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2013. These two amendments will be the last of a package of changes, approved by Parliament last year, to take effect. They are aimed at providing better coverage to more workers of the country.

It is a pleasure to be here this morning and I thank BUT’s President, Mrs Belinda Wilson, for extending this invitation for me to talk to you about National Insurance. To me, it is especially heartening to interact with members of the Bahamas Union of Teachers and to learn of this Men’s Seminar and what it represents. You teachers are not always appreciated as much as you should be. Personally, I believe this lack comes mostly from the fact that many Bahamians do not reflect deeply enough on the importance of educators.