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Only Residents Of Barbados Entitled To Free Drugs Says Minister Inniss

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Submitted by a concerned person

 

This is a response to the article on the subject of free medication. According to the Minister of Health only permanent residents and citizens of Barbados are entitled to free meds from the drug service.

What I would like to know is why people domiciled in Barbados with immigrant status are being denied free diabetic and hypertensive meds by the pharmacies of Barbados?

These people are paying NIS like everyone else. Many of us have been living in Barbados for over 20 years with immigrant status, we even voted for the present government and we are being denied our rights. We are not illegal immigrants nor do we have work permits. Some of us have businesses and are creating jobs for many people. We pay all taxes like everyone else so why are we being denied the right to free meds? We are not benefiting from paying these taxes so why pay them?

Many Bajans marrying Guyanese and Vincentians and their spouses are granted permanent residence within 2 yrs,  then these spouses getting all the benefits and they aren’t paying no taxes yet they reaping the sweets. They are living here 2 yrs and getting free meds  while  I and many others who have been living here 20 plus years and paying taxes  are being told by pharmacists that we have to pay for meds? Tell me how is that fair? I do not have a work permit but I have to pay for my meds, why?

If I had the right to vote for 20 years why should I not have the right to free healthcare? Unless of course you want to take away my right to vote too because I only have immigrant status?

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17 responses to “Only Residents Of Barbados Entitled To Free Drugs Says Minister Inniss”

  1. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    Many of us have been living in Barbados for over 20 years with immigrant status, we even voted for the present government and we are being denied our rights
    *******************************
    Here I am thinking that I know a great deal about Barbados when along comes another revelation.

    I didn’t know non citizens were accorded the right to vote

  2. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Its because people have not really a clue how to run things, how things *should* work and find the easiest targets.

    When some morons looking to bring back Owen to *wave a magic wand* and change things back to the way they were (sic),you know that they live in cloud cuckoo land.

    Reality is that chickens flying home, regardless of whomever the *leader* is.

    The world over, things are in deep doo-doo, and people think it will be different here.

    We got gold, or oil?

    One must wonder, sometimes.

    So, the Minister recognises that we cannot afford our Healthcare bill, without a change in the VAT rate.

    But they dont want to increase VAT.

    So, the bright sparks going to cut expenditures, however they can, even if unjust.

    What happens when even less comes in in taxation?

    No wonder Mia smiling, she out of the responsibility.

    Any person who wants leadership now, should examine sanity first.

  3. J Avatar
    J

    I may be wrong and one of the lawyers here can correct me, but I believe that citizens of Commonwealth countries who are legally resident in Barbados can vote. I have voted legally in another Commonwealth country even though I was not a citizen. However I would strongly reccommend that anyone who has been living and paying taxes here for 20 years should apply for citizenship.

  4. Amused Avatar
    Amused

    @J. I will have to check, but I believe that all residents over a certain age have the right to vote, irrespective of citizenship. It stands to reason as that is how it works in most countries.

    The question here is free prescription drugs. I believe the criteria ought to be that they are available to all RESIDENTS, and I think that the barring of non-citizens who are LEGAL residents is nothing more than discrimination. As for illegal residents, they have no rights, which is the way it should be.

  5. The Scout Avatar
    The Scout

    Too many of these “so-called ” immigrants are using the Barbados system in health and education to benefit their families, in their country of origin these systems are not available. The big problem is that there are too many parasites milking the bajan system and it is causing it to be on the verge of collapse, we must stop this hemorrhaging now or face a total collapse of the system; drastic action is also needed in education as in health. As I’ve always said, when these people have destroyed what bajans have sacrificed so much to obtain, they are going to hightail it back to their country of origin and leave us here to lick our wounds. For years Barbados has been the envy of the caribbean and many people are not here because they like bajans but really to milk our “goodies.”

  6. David Avatar
    David

    The issue here is who is eligible under the law.

  7. The Scout Avatar
    The Scout

    David
    I know it is who’s eligible under the law but the law is so loose in it’s interpretation that a smile lawyer could manipulate the system.

  8. islandgal246 Avatar
    islandgal246

    The Scout says “As I’ve always said, when these people have destroyed what bajans have sacrificed so much to obtain, they are going to hightail it back to their country of origin and leave us here to lick our wounds. For years Barbados has been the envy of the caribbean and many people are not here because they like bajans but really to milk our “goodies.”

    This is the biggest pile of dog dirt I have read for a long time. How much more narrow minded can we get?

    Come on Blame all immigrants for Barbados’ health care problems. Not to be reminded that Barbados has the highest rate of diabetes in this world. Who is responsible? The foreigners of course! Many old people are abandoned at the QEH and the state has to take care of them. Who is to blame ? The foreigners of course! Barbados can now boasts of 60% obesity. Who is to blame the foreigners of course! The foreigners came and took everything away from the Bajans. Bajans have never migrated to the other COUNTRIES and enjoyed the health care and social benefits that their host countries provided. IF WE BELIEVE THIS CRAP MAY GOD HELP US!

  9. BDs Hot Sauce Avatar
    BDs Hot Sauce

    @islandgal246, my thoughts exactly.

  10. Amused Avatar
    Amused

    @David. Surely the criteria is whether these immigrants pay taxes or not. If they pay taxes in Barbados, it would be untenable to deny them the right to the same advantages as other tax payers, simply on the basis that they are not Bajan. I agree completely with Islandgal246.

  11. David Avatar
    David

    @Amused

    Do expat workers pay taxes?

  12. islandgal246 Avatar
    islandgal246

    “For years Barbados has been the envy of the caribbean and many people are not here because they like bajans but really to milk our “goodies.”

    Can you tell me SCOUT, exactly what Barbados has/had that made others envy us? Resources? Food? Beauty? And who were these envious people /countries?

    This reminds me of Cinderella and her ugly sisters. The ugly sisters felt that Cinderella who had no pretty clothes and worked like a dog and was fed scraps from the table was the ugly one. The sister enjoyed a life of luxury until when Cindy showed up at the ball all cleaned and dressed. They never saw the startling beauty she was that lurked beneath the dirt, yet they felt that she envied them.

    BARBADOS AND BAJANS, PLEASE STOP FOOLING YOURSELVES THAT OTHER PEOPLE ENVY YOU. THAT IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. WUNNA TOO FU@&KING CONCEITED. SELF PRAISE AINT NO PRAISE AT ALL!

  13. islandgal246 Avatar
    islandgal246

    @ The Scout:
    When someone gives you a compliment ,IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ENVY YOU.

    When someone admire you IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ENVY YOU.

    In the past, Barbados was admired for their organizational skills and the management of their infrastructure. To some extent outsiders still feel that we have managed well for a small country with no natural resources . Well, we are now on very shaky ground and instead of filling your head with shoite, I suggest you take a long hard look around you.

  14. Amused Avatar
    Amused

    @David. They probably do, but are not resident. They would have the option not to be taxed in Barbados, but in their country of residence. However, as that can be costly process, they probably pay in Barbados. It is a point that can be argued both ways, but I believe (and it is a personal opinion) that the criteria ought to be that those who pay taxes on their income in Barbados ought to be able to call on the medical resources provided by Barbados.

  15. wonder Avatar
    wonder

    they make alot of changes they need money but are going fter it the wrong way they should cut back on other areas,

  16. J Avatar
    J

    Amused wrote ” the criteria ought to be that those who pay taxes on their income in Barbados ought to be able to call on the medical resources provided by Barbados.”

    I agree with you.

    Dear Scout: Some of tiese “foreigners” pay tens of thousands of income tax to the Barbados government each year.

    Are you telling me that if I pay $20,000+ in income tax every year, and I am legally resident in Barbados that I cannot get $100 worth of prescription medicine a month?

    The school children passing by my house this morning (I hope that Tony Marshall forgives me here) were saying that some of the foreigners pay their income taxes better than the Bajans.

  17. Bosun Avatar
    Bosun

    So how does MOH Donvile Inniss, who is shouting about discrimination against Sex Workers, intends to deal with the problem of illegals in the Sex Industry, vis a vis Aids Testing,Treatment and Drugs?

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