MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2017
business@tribunemedia.net
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NHI study: ‘More money’ will not fix health system By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net The Government yesterday raised fears it is “throwing good money after bad” with National Health Insurance (NHI), given its twoand-a-half year failure to act on confidential recommendations for strengthening the existing public health system. A report by the National Health Systems Strengthening Committee, which has never been widely-circulated or published, lists numerous issues that “must be addressed” prior to implementing universal health coverage (UHC) in the Bahamas. The document, dated September 2014 and which has been obtained by Tribune Business, warns that the Bahamas’ existing healthcare model is one that has been shown to be “financially unsustainable”. This, the committee explains, is because the Bahamian system is focused on treating illnesses and
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association’s (BFIA) president has again fired back at critics of the new industry regulations, labelling the opposition as “absolute foolishness”. Prescott Smith told Tribune Business: “All of the gloom and doom talk is just an attempt to get the Government to water down the regulations. “It’s the special interest groups making all of the noise. There was so much illegal activity going on and the Government was being defrauded badly. When you’re doing the right thing
disease, rather than on education and the promotion of healthy living and eating. “The Bahamas, like its global counterparts, continues to grapple with health system performance,” the report admitted bluntly. “Many of our existing challenges relate to deficits in the governance of system, services delivery and resource allocation (human and otherwise) that must be addressed to implement UHC in the Bahamas.” Critiquing the existing Bahamian healthcare system, it added: “The current See pg b5
Hits at ‘special interests’ opposing new regulations Says trying to pressure Govt to ‘water down’ rules there is always going to be push back.” Concerns persist over the new regulations for the fly fishing industry, which took effect on January 9. Approved by Cabinet last October, they require anglers above the age of 12, and who wish to fish in the flats, to apply for a personal See pg b7
‘Ad hoc’ apprenticeship scheme causes concern By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net The Chamber of Commerce has expressed concern about the “ad hoc” organisation of the Government’s apprenticeship scheme, a key component in a $50 million scheme to improve workforce productivity and employment prospects. See pg b4
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
Report: Issues ‘must be addressed’ before NHI ‘Realist’ document ‘flies in face’ of Govt narrative
Chamber urges ‘more focused attention’ to initiative Key component of $50m Govt/IDB funded plan Maritime, medical and IT targeted in first wave
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Minister’s ‘struggle’ over political approach to FDI
Govt yet to act on strengthening proposals
Fly fishing chief slams ‘absolute foolishness’ By NATARIO McKENZIE
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Khaalis Rolle
A Cabinet minister has admitted to “struggling” with the Government’s politically-led approach to decision-making on foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, saying: “I ain’t no politician.” Khaalis Rolle, minister of state for investments, told Tribune Business that while he and the Government had accomplished much since
2012, it was “not nearly enough” to compensate for the Bahamas’ lack of postindependence planning. The Minister explained that he had been pursuing a “dual track” approach to the investments portfolio, developing a system that will underpin “sustainable” future development, while also attracting sufficient new projects “to keep us afloat”. Reiterating that the Bahamas was failing to See pg b6
Investments chief: ‘I’m a businessman first’ ‘Dual track’ of NDP plan and ‘keeping us afloat’ Board turnaround ‘not where I’d like it to be’
Minister: Govt must be ‘more forceful’ on South Ocean resort By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A Cabinet minister has suggested that the Government needs to be “more forceful” with South Ocean’s owner if it wishes to see renewed economic activity at the long-closed resort. Khaalis Rolle, minister of state for investments, acknowledged to Tribune Business it was “somewhat disappointing” that nothing
had occurred at the southwestern New Providence location since the Christie administration took office in May 2012. He added that South Ocean’s owner, the Canadian Commercial Workers Pension Plan (CCWIPP), had received several purchase offers for the 383-acre property, but all seemed to have “fallen through”. “It is one that we have worked extremely hard on, but South Ocean has been somewhat of a difficult pro-
cess,” Mr Rolle told Tribune Business, adding that he was unaware of South Ocean’s current status or CCWIPP’s intentions. “There have been quite a number of proposed deals with the pension fund, and many of them have fallen through. I can’t say specifically why.” The Minister added: “Everything is in its time. That’s the way I look at it. Yes, it is somewhat disappointing that nothing has See pg b5
Admits lack of progress ‘somewhat disappointing’ ‘High-end brands’ eye Goodman’s Bay condo hotel MSC ‘ground break’ today; Exuma project moving