Cline blames poor tax structure for VI health bind
“Social healthcare right now, as we know it, is not sustainable. We cannot continue to look to the government to fund healthcare at such alarming costs and not be exposed to financial difficulties as we are really right now and in the future,” Cline stated.
The Chairman made the comments while a guest on the 'Speak Your Mind' show aired on May 4, 2013.
He suggested it was important that whichever government was in, recognise what is happening and put the necessary things in place to fix healthcare.
According to Cline, the current National Democratic Party (NDP) government is pouring in excess of $20M into the healthcare system and even this does not properly fund healthcare to the point where it can be said that quality healthcare is being delivered.
One of the problems the Health Authority Chairman said he observed, was that governments allowed the media to shape the healthcare discussion instead of vice versa. “Instead, these piecemeal things get out, the media house[s], they get a hold of it and then they just have a field day… they are so irresponsible, some of them, it’s crazy.”
Host for the evening, Julio ‘Sam’ Henry, quickly interjected with a disclaimer to say that this was not the view of Speak Your Mind; “We think the media has a right to their own interpretation,” he stated.
Henry said he witnessed that on occasion, persons representing the government’s position, did not appear to have the necessary information themselves. “The media now, might put a spin on that,” he added.
Chairman Cline urged that the media act responsibly in getting information out to the population in a way that makes sense. “If you have questions,” he said, “come back and ask the questions and have the proper discussion instead of making it look like we’re trying to pull wool over somebody’s eyes. That’s not what the issue here is.”
In an attempt to explain what healthcare is and what the government’s proposed National Health Insurance programme was trying to fix, Cline said, “…we’re trying to fix, in the BVI, healthcare delivery that is a quality healthcare that gives our people access at a sustainable cost.”
Describing healthcare as a human right, Cline said, “It is a widely accepted principle that every person living in their country is entitled to good healthcare, whether they have money or not.” He also said first class or quality care is also of great importance to the people of any country.
VI tax base too small
“Our people here, we pay income tax and that’s about it, other than the import duty we pay,” Cline stated, “If we want to build a great society with good infrastructure, good roads [and] good healthcare, we’re going to have to pay more; we’re going to have to pay more in taxes.”
The Health Authority Chairman said each time any government attempted to impose increased taxes in the past, they were punished and kicked out of office. “While we glory in the American society and all the good things that are happening there, it costs. It costs the people one way or another to develop and build great infrastructure and deliver services that we seek.”
Cline said Virgin Islanders who sought care in the US at exorbitant costs and refused to pay for the same thing here were helping to build someone else’s infrastructure, society and community. “When we charge them a fraction of that… $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, then it’s too expensive. You can’t have it both ways,” he said.
“If we want to build [the capacity] and the infrastructure, we have to contribute our fair share,” the Chairman suggested.
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26 Responses to “Cline blames poor tax structure for VI health bind”
This should be done until they can get Pebbles up and managing. But if government sit and do nothing, the mess they now have will fester and when it get out of control it won't be able to fix, and only then they would want to send somebody Balo. Why a country who gain profit each day is going down like this. I was in the hospital doing surgery , three time and I could hear during the night how some of the nurse shouting in a rough and rude way with one of the male patients, they conversation at that llittle desk is out of order, some just don't need to work with the people, bad , bad attitude.
Don't take about the financial department, its a mess, people insurance card get lost, people insurancce not charge then years later they sending collection agent to you. It need to clean up. Government do something so that we can attract the medical tourism here. BVIslander are leaving here and going Guyana for eye surgery and paying less than 9 hundred dollar, in St. thomas that same eye surgey cosst 3 thousand dollars. I know this mess ain't easy to fix, but start some place and work on it.
As a people we do not want to pay any taxes. We think everything should be handed to us. We prefer to build up another country and leave our country to decay. This is a serious problem in this country. The Government should assist the people in certain situations, but each person has a responsibility to provide for themselves and families as well as contribute to the upkeep of the country. Governments, except perhaps for Singapore, does not generate income, the funds largely comes from taxes, That is life!
Ro..n1eee send this man to do all his dirty work because they are bone friends. Ro..n1eee could do no wrong for this man. I hope he tell Ro..n1eee that he has a lot of blame for the lack of money in health because of his $!50 million & counting Santo construction hospital questionable project that not only broke health but the entire country then blame it on VIP.
The money from Health needs to be account for by Ron... because his ill advised & poorly funded hospital construction project is what has brought us to our financial knees. Ron... is a strong willed person but he is not good for this country as a leader. Now he has his choir boy delivering his messages.
I know there are challenges in Health care but I don't trust Cl....He will paint such a poor picture for the wrong reasons so that he & his Minister friend can bring in some new company or system or something where both of them & their cronies would be benefiting in the back. This has been their MO for years.
These people stealing the health money behind the scenes in a high tech way then complaining that there is no money for health care. Check whose company the Hospital purchasing goods from like the lights, etc. It is one big racket & Cl...e ain't no saint in it so is the new woman in charge & bully Minister. God will hold you guys accountable.
Now he want to censor the press so all the dirty deeds can go on behind closed doors.
Streeups.
Majority of our employees are employed by the private sector who's interest is merely to outsource the work or bring in their preferred employees, pay them higher salaries and give the mediocre jobs to the locals and pay them little above minimum wage.
You can't expense an average BVIslander to get a salary of $2024 after deductions while paying rent of $900+, groceries at $700+ not to mention electric, cable, water, daycare, preschool etc to pay more in taxes. That system of living paycheck to paycheck is exhausted. How about those who dont even have a degree ad have necessary bills to pay? Those who have kids? Their pay is even less.