National Roads Authority (NRA) Chairman Colford Scott and Members of the Board invited Deputy Premier and Minister of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture (DAWLA) Hon Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and her staff, including Chief Officer Alan Jones, to a meeting with NRA staff to quell allegations of staff layoff.

The NRA meeting, which took place at Public Works Department compound on Monday afternoon, dealt specifically with rumors that some 50 plus staff would be laid off by the end of December.

Deputy Premier addressed the group of employees, saying that while she and her Ministry did not get into personnel matters, which is a purview of the NRA Board, she felt that she had to reassure staff members that the rumors were not true.

“It was not the Ministry’s purview to lay off any staff at the NRA,” the Deputy Premier said.

“Government departments and statutory authorities have been given their own funds to work with and we have to live within our respective budgets. Just like we all do, even in our personal lives.

“My Ministry is not involved in compulsory personnel cuts,” she reiterated.

NRA Chairman also denied that there were impending layoffs and asked staff to concentrate on working together to find ways to cut back on spending and maintain the good name of the NRA.

“We need to find ways to improve efficiencies, and continue our progress and staff can assist in that process. You all work in the field; you know your jobs, so if you have any suggestions on how we can fine-tune the work, then please let your supervisor know.

We are all in this together and we must work together to find solutions,” he added.