The Tribune

FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis blasted the government yesterday for "backtracking" on an election promise to "move expeditiously" on National Health Insurance (NHI).

He claimed that the scheme had now reportedly taken a "backseat" until unemployment comes down.

"I believe that the Bahamian people know that the unemployment level has not changed since the General Election held six weeks ago. Indeed, the only newly unemployed Bahamians are those whose employment is being discontinued by the PLP Government - most of them in Urban Renewal offices, a programme which the PLP also claimed during the election campaign had been closed down and discontinued by the FNM.

"Throughout the General Election campaign the PLP said that they would introduce National Health Insurance within the first year in office. Dr Perry Gomez claimed that all the work had been done and that if elected the PLP could move expeditiously on the NHI front. Now, Minister of Health, Perry Gomez says that the government does not have a set date for the plan to begin," he said.

Dr Minnis said Dr Gomez had indicated the government had to "wait until the circumstances were right" in terms of the level of unemployment as the health insurance scheme was a "paying scheme" that requires "everybody participating".

"They are now using this excuse of unemployment as to why it can not be done. Mr (Perry) Christie knew it then and he knows it now," Dr Minnis added.