Minister of Health Dr. Perry Gomez yesterday anticipated the government will roll out primary care services under National Health Insurance (NHI) within approximately six months, but was somewhat vague about certain things necessary for the successful launch of that phase.

"As you know it has been delayed," Gomez told the media during a press conference at the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA).
"It will be several months. I am not sure exactly how long, but probably in around six months or so for the rollout."

He indicated that the hiring of new consultants, including KPMG, played a "big role" in the delay of NHI.

Primary care services under NHI were set to begin in April.

"The delay is almost directly related to their (KPMG's) presence and advice," Gomez said.

KPMG was named as an outside consultant on the NHI scheme in February. It announced last Wednesday that the rollout of the primary care phase of NHI will "take a bit more time".

KPMG Global Health Practice Chairman Dr. Mark Britnell said that primary care under NHI is dependent on the establishment of a public insurer, an entity he said must be in place to have a "sustainable" universal healthcare system.

At the time, Britnell could not provide a new timeline for rollout.

The government is expected to issue a tender for a third-party private company to manage its public insurer. That process is expected to be completed in a "matter of months", according to officials.

The NHI Secretariat also announced last week the formation of a new consultative body comprised of the medical profession, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, religious leaders and trade unions.

Doctors and insurance companies have not yet come on board with NHI.

The enrollment phase, which is largely dependent on the passage of NHI legislation for the National Insurance Board to exchange information with the NHI Secretariat, has also not started.

The secretariat formally released the NHI Bill more than a month ago. The bill has not yet been brought to Parliament.

When asked when the NHI Bill will be brought to Parliament, Gomez said, "There are so many bills coming up, I don't know when it is coming to be honest. But I should imagine, the House is now adjourned for a month. [We'll] probably see the schedule towards the end of that month. Ask us then."

Asked about ongoing discussions with the private insurance industry, Gomez deferred to the NHI Secretariat, noting that he has not been involved in that process.

The BIA said last week that it hopes its lack of inclusion on the new consultative body was a mistake.

By Royston Jones Jr.

Guardian Staff Reporter

TWO MEN died in a shootout with police on Thursday night after they failed to stop their car when ordered to in the Sunset Park area of Nassau.

Early reports from the scene suggest that the two men were seen by officers on patrol at the intersection of Wendall Drive and Anthony Lane driving suspiciously in a sedan. The driver refused to stop when instructed by the officers and pulled into a nearby property. The two men got out brandishing firearms, approached the officers and after an exchange of gunfire the two men were fatally wounded.

They were pronounced dead on the scene.

For the full story see Friday’s Tribune

Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade announced last night that police arrested Livingston "Toggie" Bullard and Wisler "Bobo" Davilma, the two men named in court documents as being involved in an alleged murder plot targeting wealthy hedge fund manager Louis Bacon, Fred Smith, QC, and others.

In a message to reporters, Greenslade said, "I will not play out the investigation in the press, but I can confirm for you that Toggie and Bobo are in police custody. They were arrested [in the] wee hours this morning in Nassau at separate locations."

Asked if the men will be charged with anything, the commissioner said, "Not at this time. Will revert to you as soon as I am able."

The names "Toggie" and "Bobo" became household names after Bacon, Smith, environmental attorney Romauld Ferriera, Bain Town activist Rev. C. B. Moss and Save the Bays Chairman Joseph Darville filed an action in the Supreme Court on March 9 alleging that controversial fashion designer Peter Nygard, who is Bacon's neighbor at Lyford Cay, hired hit men to murder them.

They also alleged that attorney Keod Smith wanted them murdered. Both Nygard and Keod Smith have denied the claims and have vowed to clear their names. Reportedly, none of the alleged victims had reported the alleged plot to the police. According to the action they filed in court, an investigator from Florida was hired to probe matters connected to the supposed murder plot.

Court documents identify the now former Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Michael Pintard -- who has said he is a paid consultant at Callenders & Co. -- as the person who warned Fred Smith and others of the reported plot. Pintard resigned from the FNM and from the Senate last week Monday over his role in the affair. The FNM announced yesterday that Minnis has chosen attorney Monique Gomez to replace Pintard in the Senate.

Two weeks ago, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald told Parliament that Bullard and Davilma were "flown" to the Dominican Republic. He said they are "criminals" who were paid as a part of an elaborate conspiracy funded by Louis Bacon and designed to destabilize the Christie administration.

"I want them back home without one scratch," Fitzgerald said. "They may have gotten their couple million, but that's okay."

It was unclear last night whether the men had indeed been in the Dominican Republic.

In the House of Assembly on March 14, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced that he asked the police to conduct an investigation into the matter.

"I fully support this investigation as do all of my colleagues in the government," he said at the time.

Christie called on the opposition to cooperate in such an investigation as well.

"This matter may involve criminal activity and it may involve criminal activity sourcing from that side," said the prime minister. "That is why I asked them to cooperate."

Christie said it is important that the opposition provide assurances that none of its members have instigated, facilitated or otherwise been complicit in any criminal activity in relation to any aspect of this matter.

The matter dominated the recent mid-year budget debate in the House of Assembly. The debate ended a week ago with the prime minister reiterating that he did not use his office to do favors for Nygard, as alleged by members of the opposition.

Earlier, Christie pointed out that court documents indicate there was a threat on his life as well.

In recordings that accompanied the March 9 filing, two men identified in court documents as "gang members" called the names of the prime minister and Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis liberally. They claimed to have links to Davis.

In Parliament last week, Davis did not get into the details of the matter, but previously condemned The Tribune's reporting when the newspaper broke the story of the alleged murder plot on March 10.

The story has taken numerous twists -- some of them viewed as bizarre -- since the initial reporting.

Last week, Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis confirmed that he met with Bullard three times at his (Minnis') residence. He said on one occasion Bullard asked him to warn Pintard that he was about to be set up by certain government members.

Minnis said he warned Pintard not to go to a meeting but the former chairman defied him. Minnis also claimed that the other two times Bullard came to his house he brought him fish. The matter has created a great deal of tension in the FNM.

On Tuesday, Nygard filed a court action against Minnis, Pintard, the FNM, The Tribune and others, alleging they were a part of a conspiracy to injure his reputation and his economic interests. It is unknown how much longer the police expect to investigate the matter or whether anyone will be charged in relation to it.

By Royston Jones Jr.

Guardian Staff Reporter

An armed robbery suspect reportedly had an existing injury when he was arrested, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.

Officer 506 Miller testified that the wound on Vinson Ariste appeared to be recent but was not bleeding.

Ariste is on trial before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs for the July 18, 2010 armed robbery of Loren Adderley.

Three masked men, one of whom police say was Ariste, robbed Adderley of a chain worth $3,800 outside his home in Sir Lynden Pindling Estates on July 18, 2010.

Adderley said he was unable to describe his assailants. He claimed the men "looked like ninjas" and he could only see their eyes.

Officer Miller said that he arrested Ariste at a home off Soldier Road and took him to the East Street Police Station to be booked.

Defense lawyer Dorsey McPhee asked Miller if he had pointed out the injury on Ariste to the officers at the station.

Miller said he did not, but he said the officers should have seen it.

Miller was unable to say why this injury was not mentioned on Ariste's detention record.

After Miller's testimony, prosecutor Basil Cumberbatch asked the court to excuse the jury until this afternoon.

Legal arguments continued in the jury's absence.

By Artesia Davis

Guardian Senior Reporter