I never thought I would be commanding the DNA for maturity that they are showing on this particular topic and going beyond politics for the DNA. Business the beginning of maturity in bahamain politics. I'm not a DNA supporter but I totally agree.BAHAMAIN FIRST

Comrade Chris you just open the door to ridicule the red shirts party's official opposition to Universal Health Care.
You should also tell Dr. Duane and the red leaning media-moguls , why their opposition to delay Universal Health Care for all Bahamalanders until God knows when - will be a death sentence for many of those done diagnosed and soon be diagnosed souls with lots sugar in their blood, cancer wreaking their bodies and lots other lifer-threatening medical diagnoses, that if left untreated can send you meets your maker earlier than written in lamb's book of death predictions.
For thousands of our citizens to delay Universal Health Care for even 30 days will be to hand them a certain death sentence.
It is so important that lab blood tests, x-rays, brain scans, etc be covered under new Universal Health Care.
Dr. Duane and his the red party and media-moguls have been campaigning for the return of the hangman's noose but now they are also to be known as Bahamaland's very own home-grown universal health care terrorists - they would take you out before your time.

Tal please explain why we should

1. Agree to something before we know how much it is going to cost. Who buys a car just when they don't know how much it is going to cost? In this case the government is talking about a Rolls Royce.

2. Agree to hundreds of millions more of our dollars being given away (remember 25% plus of the money spent on health is wasted every year on corrupt, inefficient people (sorry maybe they are your people).

3. Agree to this before the PHA waste and corruption is fixed.

4. Agree to this when the international rating agencies are telling us not to do it now and may down rate us.

5. Agree to this when it will almost certainly mean that the Bahamian Dollar will be devalued and the NHI will collapse as well.

6. Agree to this as it will, over a period of three year put tens of thousands out of work

Oh, don't forget to make sure that the Kidney dialysis needs to be taken out of the hands of both the Yellow shirts and the Red shirts since you keep turning this into a political thing.

Comrade Economist tis not I making this a red thing but am I not allowed counter Dr. Duane's misinformation.
And, yes he speaks for his red party - often if you red the Tribune and listen talk shows.
We should welcome and encourage exchanges over Universal Heath Care but not when disguised as we are not really against it but we don't really know how much will be the cost escalation after its introduction. Others will want to address issues of the delivery quality. All I know is the answer to all the unknown, it is still far batter than staying with the current broken health care system that few will speak well of.
The one consensus is it needs a major fix surgery and quickly cause its on life-support.
Truth be told, despite the hundreds millions they spent, the Papa Hubert regime's public delivery of health care were excellent at cosmetic surgery. Allow PM Christie to perform the radical surgery Papa and Minnis, never got around to performing.

Mr. Mortimer, you are coming across as a used car salesman asking Bahamians to continue to do what they already do so well, that is hang their basket higher than they can reach.

I reiterate; It is an unfortunate fact of life that there will always be haves and have nots and impoverishing one group of people to empower another has, in many countries, proven to be counterproductive. Socialism, including healthcare, may be a very grand and noble concept but the reality of it is as once stated by a wise statesman;

"The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries."

I for one know what I'm currently getting for my premiums, and I'm under no illusions about what I'll get for my taxes under a government run NHI.

I have heard both sides of the argument and it is clear that individuals that have a vested interest in protecting their own status or financial situation don't care whether people are dying because of failed access to basic healthcare needs. I am not a PLP, FNM or DNA they're all the same to me. In life, he who feels it knows it and the haves don't have any compassion for the have nots. Those individuals born into a certain status or who profit greatly from the current system of for profit only health care will try to spin this as some socialist anti capitalist welfare state. Yet when the government gives away Crown Land to the wealthy and provides huge incentives no mention is given to welfare or that we cannot afford it. It is only when things are done to help working class people and the poor that the affluent get up in arms about spending and debt. I am no fan of PMH or the Authority but I see the suffering that many families go through that cannot afford the premiums for health coverage or who get scammed by the insurance industry in the Bahamas. We claim to be a christian nation but would limit healthcare only to those who could afford it. I see health care as a basic human right and those who don't want universal healthcare should also have the right to purchase whatever private healthcare they can afford and avoid public hospitals and clinics. But every citizen should be able to walk into the hospital and receive medical treatment without worrying about financial ruin. Lastly the insurance industry in the Bahamas is worst than organized crime, from property to medical coverage all they want to do is collect money and not pay a dime in claims. I am under no delusion that this or anything done by the government will be done right but I give credit to the fact that they are going in the right direction for the best interest of the majority of the population.

What you are saying is perfectly acceptable ............. but will the NHI cost us to sell our souls to the IMF??????? That is what is troubling many Bahamians. Secondly, what most Bahamians have to do is commit to living healthier lifestyles because at this rate, we are killing ourselves because of our out of control eating, partying, driving and gang-banging habits ............. I am sure you understand this side of the NHI debate

BTW .................... has the NHI Bill been debated in Parliament as yet????? Or do the PLP expect that to be a 6 hour debate and rubber stamp exercise??????? There is truly little democracy left in Parliament or civiil society .......... we are told to go on the government website ....... we should be able to VOTE (opinion) on these bills on the website as well

Good questions.

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