By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE chair of the Police Staff Association (PSA) yesterday criticised the government for not including the organisation in initial discussions surrounding the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI), adding that the various associations representing law enforcement officers in the country felt "insulted" and "disrespected" by a lack of consultation. 

Inspector Dwight Smith said there appears to be a "disconnect" between the government over health insurance benefits for police officers. He said while the security forces in the country welcome the government's proposed NHI scheme, law enforcement officers felt slighted that they were not "brought around the table to actually discuss where we should go and where we want to go".

Insp Smith said: "It cannot be where you take away benefits and you don't say nothing to the people. It cannot be where you want to make changes to benefits and you don't say anything to the people. We have to actually sit down and talk about that. It would help when we sit down with these organisations, what is there to help translate the message you're trying to send, help you on the delivery end to make sure what you said is being said properly? 

"These associations are set up that way so that you can sit about. We did that in 2007, when we came up with the provider that we have now. We sat around the table and made that decision. And we chose at that time what we thought would be the best product for the officers. So from going from there to now, we really thought it was a grave insult, unjust, to the security force, to go about introducing a new insurance and actually not sit down with them and say what this insurance is all about, how its going to be delivered, what is going to be the benefits, is it going to be the same?"

On Tuesday, The Tribune reported how the government had denied claims that it was seeking to reduce health insurance benefits for public sector employees - law enforcement officials included. The government added that it would consult with "representatives of the various public sector unions" should any adjustments occur.

However, Sergeant Gregory Archer, President of the Bahamas Prison Officers Association (BPOA), stood in support of the PSA. He said that based on the BPOA's previous experiences with the government, statements of that nature could not be taken "lightly". 

"On the issue of NHI, the security forces would have to make a stand and let our message be heard clear," he said. "Why? We're hearing the government is saying our benefits would remain the same. But with our experience with the government, (the BPOA) met with them before and was told we're going to meet with you within a week.

"We're now nine months after and still have not met with this government. So we chose not to take their words lightly, but we want to wait on it to be put in black in white. 

"We should not have to be fighting for what is an entitlement. We shouldn't be fighting. The reason for this happening is respect. If the government respects us they will meet with us and they will move forward. Now you have the membership all concerned over what's going on. And they have every right to feel this way.

"Why? Because of respect. You have not met with us, you have not dialogued. You made your decision and then expect for us to fall in line. And we put our lives at risk every day for our country and this is how we're being treated." 

In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Finance said there would be no reductions in "health insurance benefits for any public servant, including law enforcement officers and nurses". However, the statement said that benefits will "shift in a phased fashion to NHI".

As such, the statement said, there may be "changes to premiums paid by the government on the selective coverage that exists now". The ministry anticipates "savings from reduced administrative costs" and from "existing surpluses that some plans have accumulated."

Insp Smith said yesterday: "We want to welcome the National Health Insurance. I hear what the minister has said. This not going to change, the same benefits that you have, you're going to remain with that. The only challenge we have is that we need to see that in black in white.

"The black and white that I saw coming over the line that was being removed from the budget, that raised a lot of questions for us as a security force. If you move it from the line item then where are you going to get the money from to keep the benefits going?

"We look forward to a meeting where when we sit around the table, that's collaboration. That means you say something I say something. You make some recommendations, I make some recommendations, and we come now with a mutual agreement that is best for the people. And when I'm talking about the people I'm talking about security forces. What is best for the security forces. That is what we want to make sure that it's there." 

The government has proposed a January 2016 implementation date for NHI and officials have said the health scheme will be phased in over a few years. 

The government has set aside $60m for NHI in the new fiscal year; however this money will be mainly used to improve existing health care services in the public sector.