Dear Editor,

After reading about the Industrial Court awards against State Insurance Company Limited, many ordinary citizens like myself are left asking one question: who is going to pay for all of this?

First, former executive manager Janice Hodge was awarded nearly EC$500,000 after the court ruled her dismissal was unfair. Now former Chief Financial Officer Andre Knight has been awarded almost EC$887,000 after the court found his termination was also procedurally flawed and oppressive.

Combined, that is well over EC$1 million.

These are not small sums of money, especially in a country where people are struggling with the high cost of living, rising utility bills, and economic pressure. The public deserves to know how a government-owned company found itself in this situation not once, but twice.

What is most alarming is that the court’s findings point to failures in procedure, fairness, and management. In both matters, the court reportedly found that the company failed to properly outline misconduct, failed to follow due process, and acted harshly in dismissing long-serving employees.

So who made these decisions? Who approved them? And most importantly, will anyone be held accountable for the financial fallout?

It cannot always be the public left to absorb the cost of poor judgment and bad management. At the end of the day, these payouts will affect the company’s finances, and by extension policyholders and taxpayers.

This is bigger than two individuals winning court cases. It raises serious concerns about governance, leadership, and accountability within state entities.

The public has a right to know whether lessons have been learned, or whether more costly lawsuits are still to come.

Concerned Citizen