Log In

Reset Password
BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

House to debate Health Ministry today

Whether they heckle her all day or not, Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson will today take Government to task for health care cuts as the Budget debate resumes at the House of Assembly.The trimming of services at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital as well as her traditional bugbear FutureCare will come under fire from the United Bermuda Party MP during a six-hour health discussion beginning this morning.In recent weeks, the 80-year-old has called for greater respect from Progressive Labour Party MPs who have drowned out her speeches with laughing and shouting, with Deputy Premier Derrick Burgess dubbing her “Aunt Louise”.But yesterday she showed no signs of easing her criticism of Government, telling The Royal Gazette she will be speaking of the spiralling costs of health care in Bermuda. She added: “I’m also going to be talking about health insurance, both HIP and FutureCare, and how they are not serving their clients.”Health Minister Zane DeSilva will open today’s debate, which will focus on the Department of Health, the hospital and health insurance. Mr DeSilva has previously stated the Ministry will review every penny spent as it makes $9 million in expected cuts across health departments.This afternoon, attention will switch to Minister Neletha Butterfield’s Public Information Services Ministry, which received the biggest percentage Budget cut, 18 percent, from $43 million to $35 million. That debate will include public land and buildings and E-Government.