By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Insurance Association yesterday said their limited involvement in National Health Insurance discussions is the “worst experience” that the association has had “with any sitting government in an independent Bahamas.”

The association said its concerns over NHI’s administration have been “dismissed or ignored in totality by the current administration,” adding that the BIA is “appalled” that the insurance industry “has been treated in such a manner by the government”.

At a press conference yesterday, officials also accused the government of furthering a “political” agenda in its push to implement the controversial plan.

The group also questioned if Prime Minister Perry Christie supports Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller’s continuous “vile, distasteful and xenophobic” criticism of BIA Chairman Emmanuel Komolafe because of a dispute over the administration of NHI.

The BIA said it is “disturbing” that Mr Christie – who has assumed responsibility for NHI – and his administration have not “distanced themselves from remarks that do not promote collaboration with key NHI stakeholders.”

The BIA said the government’s “deafening silence” is enough to suggest that “Mr Miller speaks for them or they approve of his offensive comments.”

Mr Miller has frequently criticised Mr Komalafe’s involvement in NHI discussions. During an interview with NB12 on the weekend, he mispronounced Mr Komalafe’s name, and repeated comments he made to The Tribune last year, saying he should go back to his home country. When contacted yesterday, Mr Miller hit back at the association, telling the group to “go to hell” if they don’t like his statements.

Mr Miller also told Mr Komolafe to “take his black * back to Nigeria” if he can’t “comply” with the government’s stance on NHI’s administration.

“In light of these recent derogatory remarks and the deafening silence on the part of the government, we are constrained to ask whether (Mr Miller) is a surrogate for the government and whether the prime minister views the insurance industry with the same level of disdain?” Dr Rhonda Chipman Johnson, BIA coordinator, asked at a press conference. “The lack of response from the minister of finance, minister of financial services and minister of state for finance who all share responsibility for the insurance sector is disturbing.

“We also note that the Ministry of Health, permanent secretary for NHI, NHI project manager and the National Insurance Board (NIB) have not distanced themselves from remarks that do not promote collaboration with key NHI stakeholders. Perhaps Mr Miller speaks for them as well or they approve of his offensive comments.”

She added: “It is simply unacceptable and inappropriate for Mr Komolafe and/or his family to be attacked on a personal level. As the duly elected chairman of the (BIA), he is the face of the association and expresses its views and various positions.”

Mr Miller also slammed the BIA for recently deciding not to share key industry data about the nature of health insurance in the Bahamas with the Christie administration because of its disappointment with the quality of consultation between the two parties.

The BIA, in a press statement on Thursday, said the government’s move to finalise its plans and release cost projections for them without accounting for the industry’s data is one reason why it decided not to share its potentially useful information.

On this, Mr Miller said: “You’re asking the government to take what you have, the government met with you over and repeatedly, you refuse to go along, yet you won’t provide the government with any information? Why the hell is the government entertaining them?”

He then said of Mr Komolafe: “Take your black * and go back to Nigeria if he doesn’t want to comply. He came here for one purpose, because he can’t dictate to anyone in his country. He is here to use the Bahamian people.”

The statements by both Mr Miller and the BIA are the latest in a saga of strained relations between the government and insurance stakeholders over the administration of NHI.

The BIA, comprised of 31 insurance companies, brokerages and agencies, is hoping that the government will abandon its plans to establish a public insurer and instead work towards offering affordable premiums to citizens along with its proposed vital benefits plan.

To accomplish this, the BIA had proposed the removal of value added tax (VAT) from all medical services and medical insurance, and the reduction of premium taxes in order to make healthcare more affordable. The BIA also called for the establishment of a legislated body made up of the industry, the government and civil society to set rates for the plan.

However, Progressive Liberal Party officials have said the BIA simply wants “unfettered powers to raise premiums to ensure profits.”