The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

How would one tell if a person was under the influence of marijuana, short of taking a blood test? Most likely it would be the signs manifested by the individual inhaling it – hallucinations, disruption of memory, poor coordination, inability to understand things clearly. In short, all features which, in my opinion appear to be in keeping with some of the decisions being taken by the PLP Cabinet and its members of parliament.

This has clearly come to light through their continued insistence on pushing forward National Health Insurance (NHI) and Universal health care, in a country that is on the brink of financial collapse.

Day in and day out, we are reminded of the financial burden the Bahamian citizens are faced with as a consequence of the frivolous spending by our government. Dr Gomez even admitted that “when we came into office (in 2012) the unemployment rate was 15 per cent, hence the reservation in going forward (with NHI) at the time”.

His memory is clearly short lived as the unemployment rate has gone up not down. Not only this, but the cost of living is on the rise and with the introduction of VAT people’s access to funds have been significantly affected.

The PLP’s plan on financing this pie-in-the sky is undoubtedly to secure funds from VAT (as opposed to its original introduction for the reduction of the country’s debt of 6 billion dollars). In addition, they will unquestionably have to increase current government fees and introduce new taxes to fund this bottomless pit of health care costs.

Contributions will definitely increase on already over burdened businesses, employers and employees alike. Dr Gomez admits that “NHI is a contributory scheme and the level of employment is very important because the more unemployed there are, then the greater burden on the government to finance it”.

The Cabinet is surely composed of members with absolutely no business sense. They must be hallucinating to contemplate that the Bahamas, in its current state of affairs, can afford NHI. Are these ministers so ignorant of the struggle countries like Canada and the UK have had financing their health care? These are industrialised nations with established high levels of taxation, but unlike the Bahamas have an efficient health care infrastructure, risk management and accountability and are not gagged by red tape.

There are only ten months before NHI’s introduction in January 2016. Despite this, there has been no information released to the public for debate on one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever passed in this country. Stand up Bahamas – demand that the government is transparent with their plans for your future health care and taxation. The introduction of a Universal Health Care plan could ironically be the nail in your coffin.

JANE KNOWLES (Mrs)

Business Executive.

Nassau,

March, 2015.