Alred C. Frett. Photo: VINO/File

For close to a Decade I have battled the unfairness associated with our proposed NHI - never with the intent of damaging the Government but the desire to save our People which would also benefit Government… Unfortunately, others failed to see this Vision and rejected the opportunity to join in the effort until we have now reached this point where it’s probably too much, too little, too late.

It is customary for Bad Leaders to adopt Illusions in their quest to manufacture Legacies and we have seen their eagerness to lay claim to things accomplished by others even after they openly rejected these same things when they had the opportunity… Perhaps they too realise that the majority of what they try selling as Wisdom is Foolishness and, Folly is no Legacy to be proud of.

When Parents, Teachers & Legislators become unfit for their Roles:

Instead of accepting mediocrity as the norm, Parents and Teachers should be most alarmed when Leaders push their Children and Students backwards at a time when the youngest of these Children and Students are more Technologically Advanced than our Generation… They should never choose to remain silent while the damage is done – Making noise and excuses years later is no solution.

Wrong is wrong and Representatives who perpetuate such Actions are unfit to lead just as Parents and Teachers who fail their Children are unworthy of the Love and Respect they demand… It is wicked not to care since your Child will not be affected  because you can afford to send him or her to ‘Private Institutions’ – We are all in this together and one Child left behind can destroy a Nation.

Clearly, this is just a modern version of the same Academic Discrimination that kept our Ancestors in Chains, forced our Grandparents at the back of the Bus and dumped us at the bottom of the Pile – They now seek to ensure our Children are demoted to the far end of the Line… This is shameful and wrong and we would be accomplices if we agreed rather than opposed such blatant Injustice.

Just as each step is part of a journey; our Children would never aspire, achieve or progress if we allow their Road to Education, Knowledge and Information to be blocked… In fact we are already in dire need of Knowledge as we face an NHI Scheme sorely lacking in clarity as those on the inside sell a Product they do not understand while those on the outside over react before they research.

Continuing to mistake Dictators for Representatives:

While some may deny it we saw Political Reaction to Information that was carried in a previous Article where I suggested Representatives’ failure to meet with their People could be viewed as Taxation without Representation and justify requesting dialogue with the Governor - They knew the implications and un-cancelled the Meeting but be not fooled into believing they truly listened.

Some of these Leaders are fully aware that the ‘Era of Petitions’ is fading – They too have seen them collected and simply dismissed by Dictatorial Governments who see it as their right to impose their Will on the People and, short of a Revolution, little can be done to remedy such situations… Therefore, none of us should doubt their resolve to implement NHI regardless of all its faults.

Such action is similar to ‘pushing dead Elephants uphill’ but to comprehend their determination we must first acknowledge that the Main Objective of this Scheme is to generate Funds – Hard Cash -required to pay for Mistakes and Mismanagement by Leaders… This is no longer a Secret for they have said it often enough and the doubling of Social Security Taxes simply supports the Evidence.

Never mind their argument that Social Security Contributions have never changed – This is simply untrue and basic research will show that these Premiums are increased every year; as mandated by their Social Security Amendment of 2005/6… This means, there is nothing to stop Government from increasing your NHI Taxes/Contributions as soon as the Scheme fails to meet their objective.

For all we know, you may prefer their Objective to mine:

We were once taught that Might was Right and Governments made Laws in the People’s Best Interest so we ignored the fact that Slavery was a Law and Colonialism never left us… The real lesson is that Bad Governments always require Persons ignorant enough to follow and accept the Threats and Force that are often used when the Objectives of Leaders are not those of the People.

My own Objective has always been for a BVI National Health Assurance Policy that ensures the Availability, Affordability and Sustainability of Quality Health Care for our People… A System where Care can be accessed Locally and Internationally and the Patient is fully involved in the decision making Process… We only differ because their NHI fails to meet these basic conditions.

Instead, Greed has become the driving force and Patients are treated as Prisoners… NHI starts off by promising to restrict Overseas Care thus reducing Availability and even before implementation; several Government Departments are already seeking ways to make Health Care for Patients less accessible even as the act of doubling SS Premiums makes it Unaffordable and Unsustainable.

Let’s all focus on Providing Service and Reducing Stress:

A Patient is a Person with rights who happens to be ill and it is no secret that anything done to increase a Person’s Stress level is dangerous… It is unhelpful when these perceptions - real or imaginary – are seen as Threats associated with this NHI Scheme… It stands to reason that the tendency will be to make Healthy Persons ‘ill’ and Ill Persons even sicker – That’s not good.

Furthermore, as a People descending from Slavery and Colonialism, not only are we inherently prone to Chronic Illnesses resulting from those Conditions but we are now seeing increases in various Cancers… As a BV-Islander and Manager of a Medical Complex my Foremost obligation is to prevent and cure Illness by making Quality Health Care available and affordable for and to All Patients.

These Patients must never be seen as Prisoners or held at Ransom so, - with or without NHI - B&F Medical Complex will stick to the Mission, Goals and Objectives established over the past Decades… I will shortly communicate our official position to NHI’s Management and soon provide you with that Information… Perhaps this will assist other Providers who have not yet signed on the ’dotted line’.

PS: I will continue addressing some of your Questions & Comments on Live BVP Radio Programmes