Skelton-Cline calls for 12-month suspension of NHI & Social Security
These calls came on the Thursday, October 1, 2020, edition of his ‘Honestly’ speaking radio show where the man of the cloth noted that several in the territory continue to suffer due to the pandemic.
“Giving the critical times in which we are living, I am appealing on behalf of the citizens for a further three-month break for our people,” he said.
“And I want to say to our people… do not sit there and suffer in silence, do not sit there in anger with each other, when you know that’s not the source of that anger and the root of your frustration and stress.”
Raise your voices - Skelton-Cline
Skelton-Cline’s comments came on the heels of him raising concerns that Virgin Islanders were losing properties in the midst of the pandemic and that banks needed to do more.
“Anegada was gone, Wickams Cay was gone,” he said calling for persons to speak up like the voices of the past who fought for Virgin Islanders.
Since the pandemic, the Government though NGO's has been providing food in addition to economic stimulus to persons and businesses in the territory, however, according to Skelton-Cline, a "financial break" is needed.
“Never underestimate the power of a voice, the power of one. Don’t sit back and say what can I do? One person can do a whole lot,” Skelton-Cline said in calling for Virgin Islanders to speak out about their plights.
He said regarding Social Security, Inland revenue and NHI, the Government should consider giving citizens and businesses a 12-month suspension on payments due as a stimulus action.
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36 Responses to “Skelton-Cline calls for 12-month suspension of NHI & Social Security ”
I can see you have a good heart and you are looking out for the people of the Virgin Islands.
I really do hope the government implement something to help us all who are struggling.
Its not an easy road at all.
May God bless you Mr. Cline.
Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted lives and livelihoods in the territory. Consequently, individuals, government, businesses, industry, non-profits, NGOs.....etc have experienced financial distress and solvency challenges. Hundreds of workers have been laid off, have had wages cut or furloughed. Individuals, families and businesses are experiencing hardships and needs assistance. Government is a key factor in the equation in providing and coordinating help. Further, in the pandemic, Government continues to deliver services despite declining revenues. If the down turn continues for much longer, Government may have to reduce services and make other belt tightening structural adjustments. The payroll suspensions, along with Inland Revenue revenue collections, suggested by. Claude Skelton-Cline will definitely help individuals and businesses through this difficult period. Nonetheless, the adverse impact on social security, NHI and service delivery(s) must be explored. For example, Covid-19 reduced work hours is reducing social security contributions and the further reductions would exacerbate the level of contributions. How will the reduction impact the social security trust fund reserves stability? How will benefits be impacted, if any? How much, if any, will the depletion time of the trust fund be reduced? How will NHI suspensions impact healthcare delivery? Are the suspensions just a deferral and will have to be paid in the future?
1. Develop and deliver stimulus package based on the Swedish Model of social democracy, ie, family and housing allowance, food allowance, unemployment, healthcare, education.........etc. Some of these services will be only temporary.
2. Place a moratorium on evictions, foreclosures, utilities.....etc
3. Provide small business loans and grants
4. The suggested prudent debt to GDP ratio for developing countries is 40%;estimate that the VI debt to GDP ratio is approx 17%. So government may have room to borrow to meet some of the increasing demands caused by Covid-19.
5. VI should collaborate with OTs in seeking assistance from the UK; a Marshal-style plan for OTs.
6. VI work cooperatively and collaboratively with CARICOM in seeking assistance from World Bank, IMF, OECD.....etc
7. Create a Work Programme Administration (US New Deal) styled programme to create employment
constructing/repairing public facilities, repairing/maintaining roads......etc
8. Develop plan to cut non-core services and make structural adjustments as needed
9. Develop plan to safely reopen the economy as quickly as possible .
Moreover, assistance should be for the truly needy and means tested.
We must look inwards. We must find out what happened to all the money raised in the past. Then, where we must collaborate, we have to offer something in return.
If I were a UK tax payer, I would be firmly against providing funds to a Territory with no accountability.
This is no solution, he well knows this is chat alone.
News flash, if we aren’t earning we are not paying!
But my only hope for medical care is the scheme I must pay into, as is my pension.
So that Individual duty cannot be Ignored to prevent future peril, what horrible advice to give people to do so.
Why not concessions implemented by government like lowering their many fees, rather than mess with the most needed of personal investments?
How will benefits be paid if there is no revenue?
If these revenues, Social Security and NHI are not paid for a year how will the country paid its debts? How will the sick get assistance from NHI after hearing the statistics of how many cancer, hypertension, diabetes and other ailment in the BVI? 40M was tapped in from SS already, which means by the time Pensioner received their monthly payments that will be almost another 40M taken away again. Mr. Cline surely do not care for the staff who are working in these institutions who would be paid half salary or laid off.
He knows that at the end of the month for a year come high or hell water he will be having a pay check to take home.