UPDATE: NHI going ahead as is! Petition group to up the ante – Natalio D. Wheatley
Further, Wheatley called the Premier’s response one that was long awaited and overdue. He expressed disappointment that the government seemed not to be moved by the cries of the people as the NHI is poised to begin operations tomorrow January 1, 2016.
“We wish to acknowledge the receipt of the Premier's long awaited and overdue letter of December 22, 2015 responding to our petition submission and cover letter of October 13, 2015. We were disheartened by the Premier's vague statement, ‘...we have reviewed and will be taking your suggestions into consideration, wherever possible,’ which does not specifically address the concerns raised in the petition and cover-letter and does not provide relief to the people that any changes will be made at all,” said Wheatley.
“Furthermore, we remain deeply disappointed in the Premier's decision to continue practically undeterred by the cries of the people as pointed out by the NHI Concerned Citizens and Residents Group. We, the members of the group, offered a formula for achieving a most equitable and optimal system through the collaboration of the public, the business and corporate community and the public sector. We continue to believe that such an approach is an unbeatable one and one that will produce a win-win solution for all concerned. Unfortunately, by the Government's actions, it would seem they prefer the path of autocracy and dissension,” said Wheatley.
Threats & coercion
He pointed out that persons have been registering with the scheme under duress, threats and coercion.
“While the Government is encouraged by the thousands of people registering, it is worth noting that many of those persons did so under duress, severe threat, and coercion. Therefore, a process that is not fair and free cannot be used as a means of gauging support for the NHI.”
He said that it is unknown what the motivation is for the Government continuing on this particular course, whether it is for political expediency or political face saving.
“But whatever it is, we think it is unfortunate. What we do know, however, is that we, NHI Concerned Citizens and Residents Group, are committed to a course of action for the benefit of all our people, and we shall press on with our goal of affecting a change in the present situation.”
“We have upped the ante by soliciting the intervention of the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and we are considering other options, including legal challenges and political action,” he said.
See the full text of the NHI Concerned Citizens and Residents Group's response to the Premier below:
December 31, 2015
Response to Premier's letter dated 22nd December 2015
We wish to acknowledge the receipt of the Premier's long awaited and overdue letter of 22nd December 2015 responding to our petition submission and cover letter of 13th October 2015. We were disheartened by the Premier's vague statement, “...we have reviewed and will be taking your suggestions into consideration, wherever possible,” which does not specifically address the concerns raised in the petition and cover-letter and does not provide relief to the people that any changes will be made at all.
Furthermore, we remain deeply disappointed in the Premier's decision to continue practically undeterred by the cries of the people as pointed out by the NHI Concerned Citizens and Residents Group. We, the members of the group, offered a formula for achieving a most equitable and optimal system through the collaboration of the public, the business and corporate community and the public sector. We continue to believe that such an approach is an unbeatable one and one that will produce a win-win solution for all concerned. Unfortunately, by the Government's actions, it would seem they prefer the path of autocracy and dissension.
While the Government is encouraged by the thousands of people registering, it is worth noting that many of those persons did so under duress, severe threat, and coercion. Therefore, a process that is not fair and free cannot be used as a means of gauging support for the NHI.
We do not know what the motivation is for the Government continuing on this particular course, whether it is for political expediency or political face saving, but whatever it is, we think it is unfortunate. What we do know, however, is that we, NHI Concerned Citizens and Residents Group, are committed to a course of action for the benefit of all our people, and we shall press on with our goal of affecting a change in the present situation. We have upped the ante by soliciting the intervention of the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and we are considering other options, including legal challenges and political action.
We want to thank the close to 1,000 people who signed our petition as well as the silent majority, unwilling to sign because of fear and various forms of intimidation. We appreciate the support you have given thus far and ask for your continued support going forward. You are deserving of a process where your voice matters, which is equivalent to real democracry – government for the people, of the people, and by the people!.
See previous article published on December 30, 2015:
Premier Smith finally responds by letter to NHI petition group
- body to meet today, Dec 30, 2015 to discuss whether to allow the contents of the letter to be shared with the media fraternity
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Some two and a half months later and with just days before the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) comes fully on stream, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith has responded by way of letter to the NHI Concerned Citizens and Residents Group on the petition which they had sent to him on October 13, 2015.
However, this news site is not clear as to what that response entailed as we were unable to get hold of a copy of the Premier’s letter up to post time.
It was yesterday December 29, 2015 that our source confirmed the letter had been sent from the Premier’s Office to the group detailing his response to their petition.
However, when contacted by our news site lead person of the pressure group, Mr Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru would neither confirm nor deny these reports saying only that he had no comment.
It is our news site’s understanding that Wheatley is to meet with other members of the NHI Concerned Citizens and Residents Group today December 30, 2015 with regards to making the letter, which was received from the Premier, available to the press which had been for weeks asking the group whether or not they had heard from Premier Smith.
On the last occasion that this new site spoke with Premier Smith on the issue, he said that work was being done by a committee headed by Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton.
With registration commencing on September 1, 2015, the NHI will begin full operation from Saturday January 1, 2016.
The NHI Concerned Citizens and Residents Group, which had on October 13, 2015 submitted its petition against the National Health Insurance (NHI), along with a detailed letter, has proposed a number of alternatives which it would like to see Government consider instead of the scheme in the current format.
The letter was signed by Wheatley. The petition eventually garnered close to 1,000 signatures.
Among the issues considered glaring by the Group are that the system as being implemented is mandatory, that the statistical underpinnings upon which the main study was conducted were flawed and gave incorrect figures for the percentages of insured and uninsured persons in the territory, that individuals and families will be affected, that there is a persistent culture of secrecy, and that the economic viability of the system is in question.
The Group is proposing that everyone could be registered under a private coinsurance pool, that the uninsured should be registered and individuals with insurance that is equivalent or superior to the NHI should be exempted. It also proposed that insured persons can be taxed one to two percent of their salary to pay for the uninsured and suggested the expansion of the remit of Social Security.
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49 Responses to “UPDATE: NHI going ahead as is! Petition group to up the ante – Natalio D. Wheatley ”
So who the hell are you speaking for if your @$$ is giving opinion on choices and options? You cannot stop me from thinking thats not illegal yet and im not talking for a darn soul. Life is real
Also...it was mentioned some where along the way that NHI was coming so check your information before blogging at persons who is indeed exercising democracy which also includes freedom of speech. OVER AND OUT.
Try again!
A major healthcare programme and change in how healthcare will be provided is being thrust the populace and a political game is being played. The people deserves better but will not get it, for we are all bark and no bite. Political patronage is ravaging our state of being. We are afraid to demand good governance, for we may loose a handout, fail to get an invite, loose position on social ladder, fear of being replace at the feeding trough.......etc.
Politicians behave the way they do, for there aec no consequences for their poor performance. In fact, they are rewarded for less than stellar performance and see no need to change. The people has the power but has waved the white flag and given the power to politicians. Politicians are elected representatives, not omnipotent beings. As such, they should serve the populace by listening to its needs. At the domino table, at the kitchen table, in the church hall, at the bat, at the ball game, at the water cooler.......etc we fervently discuss what is happening and what should be done but we do not demand it.
The Government worked out the public could be tricked into paying this $46 Million with a new tax called NHI. They now have $46 Million a year towards an airport.
The Government worked out it could build an airport no one needs off the backs of the people and make a lot of them and their friends rich. A project that will balloon from $400 Million to $800 Million, maybe a $Billion of our money to share. Nice