PAGE 6, Friday, December 16, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Freedom of information tabling ‘a political ploy’ from page one prime minister and his PLP government have finally introduced a Freedom of Information (Bill). “This comes after repeated calls for years, by the Free National Movement. They want to pretend they are for transparency and accountability, but their political motives on this issue are the only thing that is transparent to the Bahamian people. The continued lack of transparency from Prime Minister Christie on the secret Baha Mar deal he struck with his Chinese allies’ shows this FOIA legislation is only a political ploy to help try and save their political futures. “The PLP government has been promising to en-
act FOIA legislation for the past four and a half years, but just like every other promise this government has made, it has been empty rhetoric. The PLP truly does not want a FOIA enacted because it would mean that all of the sweetheart deals that they have made would be unveiled. It is clear that the prime minister and the PLP have shown a complete disregard for the Bahamian people and their wishes. “The embattled prime minister knows that his back is up against the wall and he will do anything to try and save his job, including trying to appear that he is for accountability and transparency. The Bahamian people see right through this act and will continue to reject his failed leadership.
“The Free National Movement stands for accountability and transparency, we stand on the side of the people who remain concerned and troubled by the lack of transparency and details of the PLP’s secret dealings with the Chinese. Deals shrouded in secrecy, and further sealed by the courts on behalf of this government. The FNM passed FOIA legislation five years ago but the PLP refused to enact it. Transparency and true accountability with a strong FOIA programme would move the country towards this goal and we will fight every day to have it in place for the Bahamian people.” On Wednesday, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald tabled the longawaited Freedom of Infor-
mation Bill after numerous delays and just five months ahead of the next election. The previous Ingraham administration passed a Freedom of Information Act shortly before the 2012 general election, however there was no date for enactment. When the Christie administration assumed office, officials said the legislation needed to be overhauled. The bill will grant the public the right of access to records held by public authorities, subject to exemptions, which balance to the right of access against the nondisclosure of government or commercial information where non disclosure is in the public interest. It aims to create transparency and accountability at the government level.
DR HUBERT MINNIS, leader of the FNM, at the party’s rally on Wednesday. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
NHI SECRETARIAT CRITICISED FOR ‘SPINNING’ SUPPORT FOR SCHEME from page one
At a press conference on Wednesday, NHI Project Manager Dr Delon Brennen said almost 70 per cent of physicians who attended last week’s briefing sessions had indicated they would accept its proposed fee structure
and sign-up as care providers. Noting that the percentage was taken from a total of 40 physicians, Dr Pierre questioned why the Secretariat would promulgate such a “meaningless statistic” given its claim that the fee structure had not been finalised, and would most likely change following col-
laboration from stakeholders. “It’s statistically insignificant, it’s a public relations campaign,” Dr Pierre said, “giving the idea that it is ready and workable, but it’s far from that. The public is not getting all the information.” “Obviously there’s possibly a political agenda, I’m sure government wants to get this done before election. Why wouldn’t they? It’s a programme, it’s socialised medicine. NHI is a symptom of an economy that lacks diversity. If crime was lower, if immigration wasn’t a problem, if the education system was good, what this is saying is that our economy is so bad that most people can’t afford insurance. “It’s a reflection of how
bad the economy is, but they’re [Secretariat] motive is to say yes, this is their agenda, to say yes this is something that is doable at the end of the day.” On Wednesday, the Secretariat announced that it would begin the registration of primary care physicians in January; a critical milestone in the NHI timeline, upon which hinges the success of the entire scheme. However, NHI officials were tight-lipped over the minimum number of primary care providers the scheme will need before it can move to the next phase. Yesterday, Dr Pierre argued that the figure was a basic algebraic equation that could be easily calculated given the amount of money spent on consultants for the scheme. The Secretariat has maintained that once the registration process for physicians is “well underway”, phase two or public enrolment to the scheme will begin. Primary care services, phase three, was said to follow “closely thereafter”; however, no deadlines or dated schedules were given for the implementation track in 2017. Speaking to general concerns from the medical community, Dr Pierre said: “They don’t even have software set up for electronic health records, and without that it’s pointless. If you can’t access those records
you don’t know what’s going on, you can’t monitor or manage care. And no one has said anything about the software.” “We’re not doing specialty care but if you start doing more pap smears, more breast exams, what are you going to tell people? Oh we can’t do the surgery, but you have cancer. We’re not doctors, we’re medical monitors. NHI doesn’t cover it so you have to go right back and start over from the public ward.” He said: “When you see the commercials, it’s a spin, and they have time to spin now.” Dr Brennen confirmed that 40 physicians participated in exit surveys at the New Providence provider sessions on December 6-7, and two other meetings held on Grand Bahama and Abaco on December 8. The reimbursement options shared at those meetings were also revealed at the NHI press briefing. The three options are: fee-for-service, where services will be reimbursed using a simplified fee schedule; capitation model, which provides reimbursement for each individual who signs up for care with a physician; and maternity care or infant care bundles, where reimbursement will be given for a package of predetermined essential services for pregnant women and infants up to two years old. The third option is also
available to physicians who are on the other models. Doctors attending the provider sessions told Tribune Business that the NHI architects were trying to impose a “70 per cent acrossthe-board” fee cut, and squeeze everything into the $100 million budget allocated by the government. Dr Pierre said: “We’re still in a recession, conditions are changing. A lot of physicians are coming out as general practitioners. NHI patients don’t have to comprise all their patients, but with NHI coming, why would I go and pay to a private insurer? “That’s what they don’t want to say, this is obviously going to be a challenge to the private insurance market with jobs. All of those things are going to come out. “They’re not being completely honest with the public. (Speaking to the maternity care bundle) those nine visits don’t include delivery of the baby. You can go to a private doctor for nine visits but if you don’t have money for a private room and delivery then you’re going to be at the public ward. Dr Pierre said: “Your doctor may volunteer to still deliver the baby, but that needs to be made clear, because it will turn into oh the greedy doctor won’t deliver. “It needs to be very clear that’s not included,” he added.
ROLLINS: MOVE TO OUST MINNIS DONE FOR SAKE OF BAHAMIANS from page one
In response to a series of questions centred on Dr Minnis’ leadership, Dr Rollins said while Dr Minnis may seem like a “nice guy,” his one time political ally is deceptive and a danger to an already struggling country. Dr Rollins was voted into the House of Assembly on the Progressive Liberal Party’s ticket. He quit the PLP in mid-2015 after becoming disenchanted with the leadership of Prime Minister Perry Christie and joined the FNM in November last year. He stated firmly yesterday that he has now decided to put party politics to the side in favour of what is best for the country. He said that line of thinking led him to side with six of his parliamentary colleagues to write Governor General Dame Marguerite asking for the removal of Dr Minnis. “We have too many people dancing around what we see as a thorny or touchy subject,” said Dr Rollins. “I have no issue with him as a human being, but I am not going to pretend that he is a strong leader. He has done a very poor job of showing that he is capable of leading this country. I am not going to engage in a deception about what I
have seen privately from Dr Minnis.” Dr Rollins, with Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells, crossed the floor in late 2015. Shortly after joining the FNM, both Dr Rollins and Mr Wells were named to the opposition’s shadow Cabinet as shadow ministers of national security and tourism respectively. The move coincided with rumours that Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and several of her parliamentary colleagues were plotting to oust Dr Minnis by writing the Governor General. The addition of Dr Rollins and Mr Wells ensured Dr Minnis, at that time, that he held the support of the majority of FNM parliamentarians. Dr Rollins continued: “After joining the FNM in 2015 I worked alongside Dr Minnis. What I found, a leader gifted the position of leader of the Free National Movement. It fell into his lap. He has done nothing to justify maintaining it. “Dr Minnis may be a nice guy, somebody who people might think is (upstanding). I believe that the danger is that Dr Minnis doesn’t have what it takes to lead this country by evidence of what we have seen thus far with the Free National Movement. Dr Minnis doesn’t
give me any confidence that he has what it takes. “I believe Dr Minnis would be an absolute failure as prime minister. He would be an utter failure if put in position to be prime minister, as he has been an utter failure as leader of Opposition.” Dr Rollins said a quick check of Dr Minnis’ track record would reveal several instances of contradictory words and actions. “He is perpetrating what the PLP did in 2012,” stated Dr Rollins. He added that Dr Minnis has done a great job selling the belief that he could change the social norms of The Bahamas but hasn’t offered any effective timeline or action plan on exactly how he would go about it. “All he is interested in is having the title of prime minister. “He is desperate for support. He is working to sell the idea that he has been wronged. He isn’t who he says he.” In Dr Rollins’ opinion “he is a fraud. Anyone who is close to him for an extended period of time comes to see exactly that.” Last Friday, Dr Rollins said Dr Minnis had a “lust for power,” as he challenged senior FNMs to call Dr Minnis to a series of closed-door meetings with the intention of helping him realise he should resign as FNM leader.