Alred C. Frett. Photo: VINO/File

As we close off this February, the longest Black History Month, our habit remains the highlighting of our successes even as we defeat ourselves by ignoring past and present victimisations that impede our rights to the same progress and prosperity like everyone… History records us as defenseless victims for generations and centuries; foreign and local; physically, financially and medically.

Our present threats and reminders include; the injustice of the Palmgrove Shopping Centre, the Flags of Slavery still allowed to fly over Wickham’s Cay and the restrictions and risks to NHI… Some may consider battling to have these and other matters resolved trivial and even impossible to accomplish but unless you know our history you will neither understand nor appreciate our destiny. 

Like sheep, we have followed the followers for so long that they have made it their sacred duty to push and drag us along without knowing where they are heading… As clones of those indoctrinated by someone, previously indoctrinated by someone else, we are programmed for selfishness where too much is not enough and we hunger and thirst for the outside before appreciating what is inside.

Truth may not set us free but it will let us see:

The vacuums we create become filled with those anxious to make us strangers in our own homes… We worship Gods of Power and Laws of Man; based on Emotion and designed to resist change, thus ensuring stagnation or regression… Meanwhile, we dismiss the God of Nature and Laws of Balance that is based on Science and mandated to promote the changes needed to ensure Progress.

Furthermore, we know this is true but following the followers prevent us from accepting reality… Unfortunately, until we appreciate the equal rights and importance of all things, we will never be free and, until our Courts acknowledge the Law’s negative bias against Descendants of Slaves, any hopeful prospects of our Future remain shackled to the Slave Master’s provisions for our Past.

Beware that those who chose not to hear are no better off than those who can’t hear and those who won’t look are no better off than those who can’t see; just as those who won’t read are no better off than those who cannot read… This worsens when the Politics of Personal Power and Possession relegates us to the bottom of the Barrel for, when overloaded, we will all be dumped even lower.

NHI, You & I in the Way Forward:

I stand firm behind the information provided regarding Covid–19 and NHI… The US, UK and other Countries that took Citizens from the affected Cruise Ships likely meant well but increased the risk of fueling a pandemic by infecting their own Populations as well as internationally; especially since these are frequent travelers and the incubation period and methods of spread still seem uncertain.

Now more than ever; NHI needs us and we need NHI… As equal Partners – Our combined efforts should be focus on Patients rather than Profit and it is wrong to conflate Public and Private Insurances for while, Private Insurance is more interested in Dollars, Public Insurance must put People first… In the end we sink or swim together and it all depends on how Government chooses to handle the matter. 

We should avoid hasty decisions and blaming each other could easily lead to mutual destruction…

It is also wrong to impose hardships on Private Providers by owing them for months; even as the Hospital is paid in advance without conditions and more players are encouraged on board to increase the foreign dependency on NHI’s dwindling funds… Whenever NHI fails to pay everyone is worse off.

All across the World the cost of Health Care and Insurances are putting Hospitals, Medical Centres and Patients into Bankruptcy and we cannot afford to be among those statistics… Our objective must be the survival and sustainability of NHI so that the People/Patients - can receive the needed Medical Care; especially Slave Descendants who would be the last ones to be considered for care.

With or without Viruses or Health Scares, nothing is as important as our Health… Once we insured ourselves privately but Government took away that option and made themselves responsible – Our fate is now in their hands and although we are ready to help, they must honour that commitment… None of us can do it alone and Procrastination is no Solution so the time to begin is right now.

PS: I will continue addressing some of your Questions and Comments on Live BVP Radio Programmes