BVI News

Proposed Insurance for HOA members an ‘overkill’

Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull

Referring to some elements as ‘an overkill’, Opposition legislator Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull has objected to the government’s request to implement a special comprehensive insurance plan for members of the House of Assembly (HOA).

A recently publicised tender notice from the Ministry of Finance sought proposals from any licensed Virgin Islands insurance company that offers Group Health Insurance to provide coverage for the HOA for five years with an option to renew annually.

The requested insurance coverage is entirely outside of the compulsory National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. Among other things, the government requested coverage to include cosmetic surgery (in the event of an accident), alcoholism and substance abuse rehabilitation, surgeon fees and assistant surgeon fees, as well as dental care (above NHI Limits inclusive of cosmetic procedures).

Tenderers were encouraged to elaborate on their preferred provider network coverage to include international care in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Caribbean, South America, the United States Virgin Islands, United States of America, British Virgin Islands & Puerto Rico.

Burden to taxpayers

In a letter addressed to House Speaker Julian Willock, Turnbull insisted that he has always been against the measure in its current state and said he made it clear to the Speaker and the Procurement Unit “that before anything goes public” he would have to write a report based on his findings as an experienced professional in the insurance field.

The Second District Representative described himself as the “lead person” gathering the necessary information to assist in achieving what the members of the house of assembly requested.

“Mr Speaker, I didn’t agree with it then and I still don’t agree with it now. My request as lead-member to have my report submitted was ignored and the tender document was finalised as I understand without my involvement and subsequently made public,” Turnbull said.

He further stated that the HOA request was based specifically on the needs of past members of the legislative branch.

In reference to an informal meeting held with the entire HOA in April, Turnbull said: “I stated then that it would be an overkill and extremely costly to do all that we had originally intended to do and then lump on additional requests that were made by members during the meeting.”

He told the Speaker that implementing the insurance before a study and necessary amendments and funding to the NHI would be “counter-productive, and a tremendously unnecessary burden and cost” to the taxpayers.

Bad timing

The Second District Representative also argued that he felt the timing was not right given the current pandemic and resulting difficulties faced by families.

“Mr Speaker my recommendation was and still is that we not go forward with the proposed insurance for members because It is my belief that we would do more damage to an already strained economy than good,” Turnbull ended.

Meanwhile, talk show host Cindy Rosan-Jones and another member of the public held a motorcade this past Saturday amidst overcast conditions to protest the HOA’s latest move. The duo started their protest in Road Town with chants of “If NHI is good enough for us, it’s good enough for them”.

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48 Comments

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  1. Trust nobody says:

    Why is it that only when the media and cindy and kishma came out is when the opposition said anything on this? Why they could not tell the public that this is what was being thought about before? Why we did not hear the opposition speak out about the recent pension increase for legislators? My analysis is that all of them in this together and only when we find out they start scrambling to take out themselves.

    Like 90
    Dislike 5
    • yuh smart! says:

      Agree with your entire post. I trust neither government nor opposition all looking out for their self interest and only speaking up when the public push back on things. Not impressed. Too little Too late

      Like 39
      Dislike 3
      • Consider this says:

        Don’t trust the UK either. Look at what’s been happening under the Tory government. The very same thing so don’t believe they will be our saviours now. The BVI is ripe now for an influx of new business and every single new business will be UK run and financed killing off the local man. As it is in every other Caribbean country.

        Like 3
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        • Chokehold says:

          We sure as h**l dont trust Andy foy either he is from and he back side squeezing the life out a we.
          Killer bee dam he poisonous

    • Read First says:

      The man said he was against it all along. He did a report condemning it and it was done over his head.

      Like 32
      Dislike 2
      • SON says:

        @READ FIRST

        HE IS L**NG THROUGH THOSE BIG TEETH OF HIS. PURE LIES. HE WAS ONE OF THEM PUSHING FOR IT FROM THE BEGINNING

        Like 9
        Dislike 2
    • SON says:

      He was the same one that went to that insurance company below mid town restaurant for the quote that he took to the house and wanted to push through.
      DONT TRUST HIM. HE IS NO BETTER THAT THOSE IN POWER NOW

      Like 11
      Dislike 2
    • But says:

      Why are they asking for coverage in the “United States” and the United States of America”?
      Sounds like overkill.

  2. this government says:

    nothing amaze me anymore with this government. this should have have only come about if you are planning to include the entire British Virgin Islands people. how can you get so brave to be doing this to your people?? but again you have a very arrogant man that spend time in prison who controls the house that wouldn’t stop at anything. Mr speak×× we the people didn’t vote for you.what is good for the house of assembly is good for us.

    Like 52
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    • Fools says:

      No, the politicians feel that they are better than us. So during the pandemic they deserve the best while others struggle to buy food.

      Like 25
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  3. Bizarre says:

    Lord of mercy look ting to talk. Them thought them would be all over the headlines being a nuisance.

    Set of disrespectful duo. How would you like anybody crash you party. A personal birthday party to boot. Who give them permission to make up all them noise. Look them well brainwash. I applaud BVI news. Disrespect is just bad news this mondayyy morning. Evil set of people.

    Like 4
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    • @BIZARRE says:

      AHHHH SHUT UP ALREADY WILL YOU. THEY DIDNOT GO INSIDE THE PARTY JACK***. SO HOW THE F**k THEY CRASH THE GHETTO BIRTHDAY PARTY. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU ARE GETTING A WHITE ENVELOPE, A DRINK AND A PLATE OF FOOD FOR YOUR VOTE YOU DAMN SELLOUT.

      Like 8
      Dislike 1
    • No no says:

      How the devil it was personal up at the untidy sticky looking votes.if it is that personal y not your house that’s personal not the sticket

  4. LOL says:

    The Speaker clearly does NOT understand his roll. He is writing to Governors and putting out tenders but who is surprised by all this? Time alone will tell.

    Like 56
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  5. WEW says:

    Whats good for the tax payers apparently isn’t good enough for our greedy elected officials. If they feel the need more health insurance they can buy it themselves.

    Like 40
  6. yaa. says:

    This is not a selfless proposal. This will be unfair on tax payers welfare. The government should find a way to service NHI adequately so that all citizens and contributors , including elected personnel will enjoy it .It makes no sense for tax payers money deducted from the source to be spent on cosmetic when many people of families cant feed adequately .Why difficult to earn and taxed money going to be spent on tattooing ,B. augmentation and suctioning.
    We should think twice.
    Impact of COVID and School projects are there that are biting .Government should do things that will benefit all.

    Like 28
  7. Voter says:

    Another nail in VIP coffin for me!! Myron where you ay???

    Like 48
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    • Another voter says:

      Yeah, where my boy MYRON AT?

      Like 21
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    • Its a shame says:

      Try leave my friend Myron alone. The BVI don’t appreciate good people. Myron was one of the best reps we ever ever had. You could depend on him to help when you were in need. He was productive. Education would not have had the mess it have. You know what you got you don’t know what you going to get. Look at what we trade Myron for.

      Like 17
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      • @It’s a shame says:

        Myron is going to be good next election. IF MYRON AND FOY RUN AGAINST EACH OTHER SAY NEXT MONTH, MYRON WILL WIN.FOY REPUTATION IS OUT THE WINDOW. THE SAME THINGS HE DID AND SAID TO TURN THE PEOPLE AGAINST MYRON IS NOW SCRATCHING DOWN FOY BACK. JUST IMAGINE A CAT SINKING ITS CLAWS IN YOUR BACK AND SLOWLY SLIDING DOWN..

  8. Yaa. says:

    Thank you Hon Turnbull.

    Like 25
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    • yaa says:

      The tax payers and contributors can have access to essential cosmetic surgery or care following accident but all care should be limited to NHI. Anybody who wants special insurance should pay for it from his pocket.

      Like 18
  9. Common sense says:

    Just one more issue for the COI to investigate, this is not British democracy.

    Like 15
  10. Low Down Dirty Shame - V*** says:

    When you can’t refute the message, you attack the messenger. You all stay woke. Be not blinded by personality and personal indifference. Do not let this government continue to fool us. V*** just nasty with his attempt to change the narrative. Epic Failure. We the people know what is going on.
    #itstimewestandup

    Like 15
  11. Windy says:

    And they wonder why the UK has a COI crawling up their ars. Bunch of undeserving crooks.

    Like 23
    Dislike 1
  12. yaa says:

    The tax payers and contributors can have access to essential cosmetic surgery or care following accident but all care should be limited to NHI. Anybody who wants special insurance should pay for it from his pocket.

    Like 15
  13. snake says:

    Mitch was the one who recommended the benefits under the proposals in the first place. He is such a snake.

    Like 10
    Dislike 4
  14. Hmm says:

    They continue to force NHI down everybody throat knowing it’s mediocre but NHI not good enough for them… Now they want third party health insurance and decide they not paying for it with their own money. #yourgovernmentworkingforyou

    Like 16
  15. Kareem says:

    Mitch you l** and you call yourself God fearing!

    Allegedly, Mitch is the one who was leading the cause with his opposition colleges and now he want to twist the story and put in on the VIP administration.

    How can you lead a cause and then say you not for it? This man will lie about God right in front of God making him an evil deceitful manipulator.

    Like 3
    Dislike 2
  16. My confession says:

    I voted VIP all the way because I wanted the NDP out. I made one mistake that I am woman enough to admit. I should have voted for Myron. He is definitely missing. A lot of this nonsense that is happening now would have been different if he was there.

    Like 18
    Dislike 5
    • @ My confession says:

      Blah Blah Blah. Take that.

      Like 4
      Dislike 2
      • @@My Confession says:

        AT LEAST THE PERSON ADMIT THAT SHE F***ED UP, THIS IS NOT ABOUT BLAH, TAKE THAT. YOU KNOW, IN THE BVI IF PEOPLE WOULD ADMIT WHEN THEY F***ED UP, CORRECT IT AND MOVE ON, IT WOULD BE A MUCH NICER PLACE.

    • Sarah says:

      He tried to warn you all

    • I confess also says:

      I made the mistake of voting VIP ALSO. ALSO AS A WOMAN I WILL COME CLEAN AND ADMIT IT. MYRON, I APOLOGIZE FOR MAKING THAT MISTAKE. THEY CANNOT FOOL US THIS TIME.

      Like 5
      Dislike 2
      • I miss him says:

        When Myron was not voted back in it hurt me. I cried because I know that he worked hard for the people of the BVI especially the people of Virgin Gorda. I know it must have hurt him also. Even if the NDP lost I wanted Myron to remain. They lied on that man so much during the election and people believed. I hope he tries again because the country needs good people like him. Look at the mess we have. Everybody lying, stealing and setting up themselves while the people suffer.

  17. Kudos says:

    I would like to publicly recognise not only the two brave women who championed the cause on Saturday gone, but all the other bold and brave persons within our BVI community who are not afraid to speak out on matters of public interest.

    Thank you for making our leaders accountable.

    Like 15
    Dislike 1
  18. ???? says:

    Who was it that brought the “MOTION” to the House. Can we get a roll call by Name’s of all the Reps. who vote in FAVOR of the ” MOTION “. ???

  19. Big AL says:

    Even the Mafia has ethics. VIP government is void of morals, ethics, honesty or integrity. Andrew Fahie is h**l bent on making Totalitarianism the order of the day in this territory. Then CSK jumping up and down about the COI. Thank God we have UK oversight or dogs will be better than us. This inquiry into the VIP government operations of the people’s business is very necessary. NHI is not good enough for HOA members so they need a comprehensive private insurance. Nothing is wrong with that, but they should pay for it themselves. I can’t wait to see the backs of these cr****als.

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  20. I Wonder says:

    Is there really a former elected official who is down and out as is being claimed?

    I doubt it.

  21. Wow says:

    Why these politicians trying to make themselves rich off of taxpayers money. First is pay themselves two years salary for being in office for one term. So you telling me that they did not get paid the four years they were in office. BUT Public servants can’t get increment or a raise…NOW NHI is not good enough for them so they wand our tax money to pay for their private insurance. There is a lot of things they inside there voting on and passing. But remember the Good God of the universe still on the throne. Sickening set of people. WHAT IS NEXT!!!

  22. Anonymous says:

    This wasn’t a surprise to the opposition. They took part and knew some sort of bill assisting legislators was coming. They now because of backlash act like it wasn’t what they expected.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  23. No Joke People, Tax Payer says:

    Honestly my fellow tax paying citizens, we cannot sit by and allow this to happen. I am sick to my stomach about this. We must take and be content with the crappy insurance while these people and their families expect us to cover their perk filled insurance? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!. TO WHO? NOT MY TAX PAYING MONEY.

    Like 2
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  24. Youth says:

    The VIP in two years have done more good than their few missteps especially governing in the middle of the worse pandemic in the last 100 years. Most of us know this so don’t mind the noise.

    Like 1
    Dislike 12
  25. PT9 says:

    @Youth,You don’t know CRAP, the NDP looks like Altar boys to the VIP, The VIP has done worse in the two years than the NDP did in 8 years. I am not an NDP fan but that could change if the only choice I have is between the VIP and the NDP.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1

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