The Tribune

By NICOLE BURROWS

WITH every news report I watch, listen to or read, the shorter my fuse becomes ... my fuse of tolerance, that is, for what masquerades in The Bahamas as leadership and governance.

I find myself evermore rolling my eyes and sucking my teeth at the news headlines, the politicians’ commentary and the average citizens’ ability to watch it all unfolding in front of them and yet be unaffected by it.

National Health Insurance/Universal Health Coverage (NHI/UHC)

It’s a noble thought but is it truly going to be helpful, given the way Bahamians currently live and the way they go about conducting everyday business in the country?

In my understanding of recent statements on the topic, which admittedly there is generally very little of (understanding and statements alike), NHI is supposed to bring with it financial assistance most notably as protection against personally bankrupting costs associated with catastrophic illness, a mammoth task to be achieved by funding from a/the Consolidated Fund.

Prime Minister Christie suggests in his recent commentary that we need NHI/UHC because of the high rates of non-communicable diseases – like diabetes – suffered by Bahamians.

But we don’t have high rates of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases in The Bahamas solely or even mostly because of a lack of universal health care. We have prevalent non-communicable diseases because of poor dietary (and other) habits in adults, which begin all the way back in childhood. With that as a fact, NHI/UHC is useless in the medium- or long-term, if it’s being brought to safeguard against the rising costs of non-communicable diseases.

What will we do when the bulk of the spending on NHI is paid out to support the unhealthy lifestyles of Bahamian citizens?

Will we sink further into debt because too large a number of people decide it’s still more fun to drink rum and eat greasy, fried chicken all day, every day? Ya ga dead anyway, might as well live ... they say.

One of the most important questions that still needs to be answered is does the existing overall health condition of the Bahamian society impact negatively or positively upon the likely success rate of NHI/UHC?

And, if there are any potential successes to be realised, are they likely to be sustainable, particularly without significant lifestyle changes across the board? If any significant thought were given to these questions it might begin to be more obvious how few people are likely to benefit from this scheme.

Also still important to answer, does good health reduce poverty, or does less poverty improve health? Are we throwing the gargantuan efforts in the wrong direction here?

If you improve health miraculously without improving lifestyles, and the people are still living in poverty, what do you anticipate the outcome will be?

Person of the Year?

Wendall Jones and Jones Communications awards this nebulous honour in what is clearly a kiss-ass move this time around. What is this really about? In the worst government ever, in the worst year of the worst government ever, and at the lowest level of public support even from his own followers, the Prime Minister of the current government of The Bahamas is awarded ‘person of the year’?

Is it meant to be an ego boost? It must be. Because who takes this seriously other than Mr Jones?

Free National mania

Meanwhile, Senator Lanisha Rolle sings ‘All Hail the Power of Minnis’ Name’ claiming that Minnis has favour with the masses? And not just any kind of favour, but favour to be jealous of?

Where are those masses? She must be referring to the masses of the Free National Movement Council, ey? ‘Cause it sure ain’t masses of the Bahamian public, even amongst the self-declared FNM supporters. And now with the few words they’ve spoken, former Prime Minister Ingraham and former Deputy Prime Minister Symonette have inadvertently (maybe?) given the current FNM leadership the kiss of death.

Orator on the Mount

Mr Christie complains now about the media and certain outspoken persons utilising the figurative Mount Olympus to deliver messages from on high. He says there’s no need to talk from the Mount, when you can sit in your office or at your desk and say once, twice, or more if necessary “Prime Minister, I disagree”.

Well what is that supposed to do?

Furthermore, or more importantly, Christie complains about all these other people being on Mount Olympus and he’s always there himself spewing platitudes and aggrandisement?

I wish there was something I could agree with Mr Christie on. I wish we had something in common more than a love for our country. At least, I think he still has that in common with me. Hard to tell lately. And it’s especially hard to identify with someone when they repeatedly appear to be inauthentic.

Bishop Boyd, Brown and Christie

Which of these things doesn’t belong?

Is this reprimand of the (former) Archdeacon and muscle flexing of the Anglican Bishop really about what they say it’s about?

If we are to believe Brown had to be stripped for saying that the Prime Minister had too much time at the podium in a private funeral, why strip him now? Brown is notorious for speaking his mind on very similar issues. He’s also noted for some other things which may be far less easy and way more uncouth to pin on him, so was this an opportunity to get him on those grievances?

And if you strip him of the title of Archdeacon, why not strip him completely of his present role in the church?

It’s another half-assed attempt in the sordid love affair between the Bahamian church and the Bahamian state which so clearly needs to be divorced from one another if we are going to stop running circles around the edge of progress in this country.

Besides, everyone knows that Prime Minister Christie is notorious for waxing unending at people’s funerals.

Let the dead rest in peace, man. But I guess when the mourners feel less bereaved because the Prime Minister showed his face at their loved one’s funeral, that’s worth its weight in gold and is why it continues.

It’s nauseating, this culture of politicians lining the first few rows at funerals of their constituents, pulling in late, falling asleep, leaving early ... and you’re supposed to be enthralled by their presence?

The pageantry and political showboating go hand-in-hand with the shuffling, but as protocol it just doesn’t cut it for those of us who don’t people-worship, politician-worship, and see beyond the trite rituals of a depressing generation of people who live for others’ acknowledgment. Be about the business dammit.

Why are you paying respects at the end of someone’s life when you didn’t pay it in their lifetime?

No - you shouldn’t be allowed to speak, or speak over your allotted time, especially if the family didn’t request it.

US guns

In a press interview a couple weeks ago, US Charge d’Affaires Lisa Johnson “insisted that gun control in the US will not solve the problem with guns in The Bahamas”.

She’s quoted as saying “you’re not going to find the answer to your gun problem in US legislation or change in policy ... You’re going to find it by working closely with us both on investigating and trying to shut down some of those criminal rings that are bringing guns into this country and trying to stop that.”

These words still ring in my ears as they should yours, because it hints at the reality that someone knows what and where the problem is, and that if we think we still don’t we only need look where they’re (the US government/intelligence is) looking. And if, after that, we still don’t see where the problem is, we’re either not looking at all, or we refuse to acknowledge who exactly comprises the criminal rings, rendering us ineffective at dealing with them expediently and appropriately.

The new slaves

We are entering a new era of slavery, where it is less about your skin colour and more about your nationality.

Others are coming into The Bahamas, your country, and usurping everything from your property to your way of life.

Prime Minister Christie facilitates every new Columbus of the 21st century. He gives away our sovereignty while feigning interest in preserving it, in exchange for a few resorts, container ports, and ... tear gas grenades from the Chinese military?

It might as well had been Christie and crew standing on the shores of San Salvador, or Cat Island, or wherever it is they finally agree Columbus tripped and landed.

The Chinese people are historically conquerors and contemporarily shrewd business people.

They are friendly, but friendship won’t prevent them from exerting force where they should find it necessary, as demonstrated on their home territory. The Bahamas will be caught between China, America and the deep blue sea, trying to figure out who to give loyalty to and from where loyalty comes.

Send email to nburrows at tribunemedia.net