BIU financial account file incomplete Registrar General
The Bermuda Industrial Union’s financial accounts are still not available for public viewing as the union has failed to submit further details requested by the Registrar General.The BIU presented its overdue accounts for 2003 to 2009 amid fanfare in early September, after repeated complaints that members don’t know how much money is in the coffers. At that time, president Chris Furbert announced the BIU was in good financial shape, but the public has since been unable to judge the accounts for themselves despite initial claims they’d be available imminently.Yesterday, Registrar General Marlene Christopher said she has been waiting to release the documents because the union has not provided information about its accounts for 2000 to 2002, which were previously rejected for being statutorily insufficient. Ms Christopher said the accounts for 2003 to 2009 meet the filing requirements and that they provide a general statement of income, expenditures, funds and effects, detailing a breakdown of BIU members.Former One Bermuda Alliance chairman Michael Fahy has previously criticised the accounts for 2000 to 2002 for having a serious lack of explanatory notes explaining receipts and costs, unclear line item explanations and no breakdown of large items.Mr Fahy, who has campaigned for the union to reveal its finances to the public, says those three accounts revealed union salaries grossly outstripped union members dues. He has repeatedly claimed in recent months that union members have approached him anxious to know if there’s enough money to support them in the case of strike action. Mr Fahy claims the BIU has broken the law by not allowing its members to see approved financial statements for the past 12 years.On Friday, September 9, the BIU announced at a press conference that it had filed its accounts for 2003 to 2009, with Mr Furbert pledging the accounts for 2009/10 would be available soon to bring the BIU up to date, and that they could all be inspected via Ms Christopher.The following Monday, Ms Christopher confirmed receipt and said they would be available for public inspection after she had checked them off.However, in a number of communications since then, the Registrar General has said she would not release them before the BIU provides information relating to the 2000 to 2002 reports.Yesterday, she said she had still not been given that information despite requests. BIU executive secretary Senator LaVerne Furbert said Chris Furbert is on vacation until Wednesday this week.