'We already pay for Social Security; no need to pay again for NHI' - Winston E. Nibbs
Speaking as one of the guests of Doug Wheatley's Speak Out BVI show heard on ZBVI 780 AM, Nibbs said the Social Security Board, as part of its mandate, would have established an NHI fund which is to be separate from other social security funds for the managing of the inflows and outflows of monies involved in conducting the business operations of the NHI.
"In addition, the Social Security Board will set aside a portion of the allocated amount of contributed funds in a reserve account to meet defined shortfalls and unplanned payment obligations if and when these occur," he said.
Greed playing a part
Furthermore, Mr Nibbs said he believes greed is playing a part since government should have the necessary funds that they require from the Social Security Board to fund an NHI programme and as such they do not need to further make deductions from people’s earnings.
"They have made the contributions already so let's subsidise it and go forward," Nibbs said.
"People of the Virgin Islands we are sleeping...we have done this already. We took care of it...we are just redefining the language now...we don't need to pay more money. That's my argument," said Nibbs.
"We paid already. It's called our Social Security contributions. Social Security had been designed to address our medical care in this country. We just have not been utilising it. And now that we decide to utilise it and call it NHI I am saying the contribution that you have already made, you take a small percentage of that and give it to the NHI division," he said.
As opposition to the NHI continues to mount from all quarters, it is set to culminate on Friday October 9, 2015 when a group of concerned citizens and residents presents a petition to Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith with the hope that he takes the NHI back to the drawing board to address some or all of the concerns pointed out.
23 Responses to “'We already pay for Social Security; no need to pay again for NHI' - Winston E. Nibbs ”
Does he even understand what subsidize means? OMG!!!!!
In the UK which has many years experience of the welfare state, we used to have National Insurance which was for unemployment and pensions, and separate health contributions. Years ago they were combined and now indeed workers pay one sum to National Insurance to cover all welfare. However our Social Security was only set up for pensions basically, and a fine job they do of it. As it stands draining SS for health care would empty the coffers in a few weeks.