As Leader of the Opposition, I was shocked and disappointed to see the Executive Council Minutes from 10th December 2020, posted on the government website on 3rd January 2021, where this APM Government at a time like this, thought it fit to increase a whole host of fees for health services here in Anguilla.
I was shocked because the Health division in the Budget Address was 5 pages long. Health Authority took up one whole page and talked about all of the upgrades and renovations that took place under the leadership of Evan McNeil Rogers as Minister of Health. But not one word was mentioned in the Address on December 18th 2020 about the increase in Health fees that the Government agreed to in Exco on December 10th 2020.
The Opposition would have certainly opposed any increase in fees at this time, had it been specifically disclosed either before or during the Budget Address and/or the time for debate. Just to note, an increase in such health fees was not even on the table during AUF’s administration.
And I am disappointed because, at this time where the world is dealing with a health crisis, which still may or may not reach our shores, the possibility of community spread in Anguilla, and the fact that so many Anguillians are currently unemployed or underemployed and are struggling to make ends meet, it is a terrible time to implement increases in health care costs.
Health care should be made more affordable and allow greater access in the event of illness. Our senior citizens, many of whom require medication, are our most vulnerable and should not have to pay more for their prescriptions. At a time when life is at its hardest, they now have an added expense with no prospect of any increase to their pensions.
I am sorry, but while we are dealing with a pandemic, this is not the time to increase fees in the health sector.
