Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith will be meeting with National Health Insurance (NHI) petitioners at his office tomorrow October 13, 2015 at 10:00. Photo: VINO/File

“The Premier will be meeting with us at 10:00 am tomorrow…that is if [Premier Smith] doesn’t postpone it again. We wanted to get that out in the media,” said Maduro when contacted by this news site. Photo: VINO/File

Main driving force behind the petition Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru confirmed with this news site that the meeting was on for tomorrow. “We are happy that the Premier was able to arrange a meeting with us and we look forward to a positive interaction on Tuesday,” said Wheatley. Photo: Facebook

A scheduled meeting between the said parties on Friday October 9, 2015 was cancelled after the Premier cited scheduling conflicts. At a press conference on Thursday October 8, 2015 the Premier had indicated his willingness to meet with the group and said that he would be getting in touch with them to schedule a new meeting.

“The Premier will be meeting with us at 10:00 am tomorrow…that is if [Premier Smith] doesn’t postpone it again. We wanted to get that out in the media,” said Maduro when contacted by this news site.

“I am trying to get the members of the group to make available to the media whatever we present to him (the Premier),” said Maduro.

“I personally believe that is the way it should happen because we dealing with the public and the public should know what we said,” he said.

Efforts to reach Premier Smith for a comment proved futile up to post time. However, the main driving force behind the petition, Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, confirmed with this news site that the meeting was on for tomorrow.

“We are happy that the Premier was able to arrange a meeting with us and we look forward to a positive interaction on Tuesday,” said Wheatley.

The petition essentially asks the Premier to consider the negative consequences of the NHI and to send it back to the drawing board so that the issues could be addressed. As of today’s date October 12, 2015, the online petition garnered 620 signatures. It is unclear how many signatures the paper petition has so far attracted as these are still being collected.

Letter to Premier Smith

A letter attached to the petition and addressed to Premier Smith outlined the objectives of the petition and what it hoped to achieve. It read:

“Dr. Hon. D. Orlando Smith, Premier of the Virgin Islands

“We, the undersigned, petition the Premier, the Head of the Government of the Virgin Islands in regards to the National Health Insurance scheme, which is slated to start on January 1st 2016. The following issues are of concern to us:

“The National Health Insurance scheme is mandatory for all persons residing in the Virgin Islands, and, therefore, may result in 60% of the population losing the private insurance provided through their employers who more than likely would not pay for both.

“The National Health Insurance scheme will restrict choice as it pertains to health care providers.

“The National Health Insurance scheme will more than likely result in the layoff of some employees working in the private health insurance industry.

“The National Health Insurance scheme will place an additional burden on small businesses, which may find it difficult to pay contributions to the scheme.

“The National Health Insurance scheme will increase the cost of living.

“The government has not presented evidence to the public that the National Health Insurance scheme will be viable and sustainable.

“Considering these factors, we, the undersigned, call on the Premier to halt the implementation of the NHI in its current form and initiate negotiations with the private insurance industry, employers, employees, citizens and residents and relevant government entities to create an insurance package that can provide coverage for the 40% of Virgin Islanders uninsured, allowing those who are satisfied with their private insurance to keep it,” the letter concluded.

Online petitioners react

Persons took the opportunity to comment as why they had signed the petition supporting its cause.

Akeem Legair said, “I am signing because I believe this move by the BVI Government is an insult to our intelligence. The last time I checked we live in a Democratic Country and this move speaks volumes about the group of people that we put in place in The House of Assembly to represent our best interest. Democracy by definition is a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. It's time for us to take that power back!!”

Natonia Henley said, “I have a pre-existing condition that requires me to have an organ transplant. My private health insurance is fully covering for my treatment overseas. I am now in my final stage with the required test some of which are not done in the BVI. After all that I have been through to reach this far the NHI would not benefit me. P.S. I am already approved on the transplant list overseas.”

Erick Oeseburg wrote, “While I think that coverage should be available to all and that the well-off could help the less privileged. One cannot expect to be force-fed an insurance one does not want nor needs. Raising the minimum wage, or rather doubling it, should be a far more urgent issue that could help the same less privileged.”

Norine Donovan said, “Non-medical personnel will be responsible for making decisions about advanced care. Dangerous!!!”

D. Hanley said, “I'm signing because I need to have a right and choice of my healthcare and not be limited because the government wants more money. I'm signing because it should be made optional and not mandatory. I'm signing because our government doesn't care about the people. I'm signing because I need to know my health problems will NOT be discuss as a table topic on what type of treatment I can get a cheaper price that benefits the government pocket and not mine health and where I should go for treatment. I'm signing because I'm trying to protect the next generation from this slavery the government is putting the residents in. I'm signing because I CANNOT AFFORD to pay NHI and a supplementary insurance!! I'm signing because privacy matters!!”