The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

So George Smith says not to worry about the cost of National Health Insurance, just be happy that we are doing such a great thing. That is the height of irresponsibility coming from one who should now be giving the kind of advice expected from a senior statesman.

When we have a government that constantly fumbles, makes false promises, double talks, wastes our money, blunders, and staggers from scandal to scandal, Mr. Smith tells us don’t worry, be happy that this same government is trying to introduce such an important and bound-to-be expensive social programme. He must be joking?

People are already worried that a high-ranking official recently admitted that about 25 per cent ($100 million!) of our present annual health budget is being “wasted”. Don’t worry, be happy that the same people will be responsible for a massively increased health budget and more taxes.

If in the end the bill for the total national health package turns out to be $1 billion, then at that rate the wastage will be $250m a year! Those who are benefitting from the “waste” must salivating at the prospects, but the rest of us will be weeping.

The only little comfort in this whole affair is that the long-promised NHI will not be “rolled out” in 2016.

Without coming right out and saying so the PLP, having failed to keep its original promise, has now accepted the FNM’s position that it should be done in stages.

So what they will do is some expansion of the health infrastructure – like registration – and maybe increase some aspects of the primary health care services we already enjoy and then call that “rolling out”.

NOT HAPPY

Nassau,

December 25, 2015.