Bahamian Nurses Reject Deal
“We proposed that the nurses would have the private facilities should they become sick and the government would cover their illnesses 100 percent. If the facility did not have what was needed for that particular illness, then nurses would be referred to the United States or wherever and the government would cover 100 percent of that and that would be [done in the] interim until the insurance kicks in,” he said. “They rejected that and said that they want their insurance. We will wait for their counterproposal in writing because they insist that they want their insurance.” said Minister of Health Dr. Hubert Minnis. What more do they want!?? I think it is one thing to prove a point but it is another thing to be outright heartless in these trying times. With an economy that is broken and suffering, he who wants all gets none. I think these nurses really need to take a step back and reflect on what it is they are really asking for and how fair it is.
As a Registered Nurse, I just couldn’t keep quiet any longer on this issue of health insurance for nurses. It is crystal clear to me that Cleola Hamilton has a political agenda, and the other nurses are following behind her like lambs to the slaughter!
What world are you living in? Do you know that last month alone, more than 300,000 people lost jobs in America? That is the entire population of The Bahamas! Have you not seen the drop in tourism and the loss of jobs right here in The Bahamas?
Anyone with a brain, can see the economic situation that the entire world is in! What a time to make a demand for something that may be extremely important to everyone, but least of all to NURSES?
What nurse can stand up and tell me that you are in dire straits for medical insurance? We are in a better position than most! If you walked into PMH now, I can guarantee you that you will get preferential treatment because you’ve known and worked with the staff for many years.
As a registered nurse, you have physician acquaintances who would be more than happy to see and treat you AND your family for little or no charge. Dr. Minnis himself treated me and other nurses throughout the course of our pregnancies and never charged us a single dime!! I have never stood in a line or waited hours to see a doctor, and very few if any nurses do.
Dr. Minnis has taken money out of his pocket time and time again to fund educational seminars for us nurses, along with Christmas parties and other events that were related to nurses. In fact he has offered us the assurance that beds have been put aside and that we will receive quality private care if and when needed, until the government can afford to provide health insurance. He has always been there for nurses, and I challenge any nurse at PMH to prove otherwise.
Cleola Hamilton and the nurses who blindly follow her, should be ashamed of themselves, at a time when thousands of people are without jobs! We should be thanking God for ours!
The people who stand behind them and insist that the government fork up the $10,000,000 NOW, are the same people who would complain about the lack of something else, because the money was used for that purpose.
I heard one man on the radio this morning say that if the government can spend over $100,000,000 on roads, they can take $10,000,000 to give us medical insurance. He would probably be the same man bitching and moaning and cussing Neko Grant if his car fell in a ditch tomorrow!!
I say to the Honorable Prime Minister and Dr. Hubert Minnis, you are doing a great job!! Keep up the good work!!
To the teachers and doctors, I say thank you for having a brain!
I say to my collagues, the nurses, STOP the politics and the consultations with the opposition and practice your profession faithfully. Abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, maintain and elevate the standard of your profession, and devote yourself to the welfare of those committed to your care!
SHUT UP, GET BACK TO WORK! and THANK GOD FOR A JOB!!! ….Your sacrifice WILL BE rewarded.
