Those on the Southside of the Belize district had better enjoy their free NHI benefits now, because in a few months it could come with a cost.
Social Security's contract to foot the bill for NHI ends in December, and today the 8 person NHI committee met to discuss funding alternatives. Still sketchy initial reports out of that meeting which concluded this afternoon are that the committee will propose to Cabinet that it levy a "sin tax" on tobacco and alcohol products to help pay NHI's cost of operations believed to be close to $4 million a year.
Cabinet will review this proposal when it meets on November 9th. It is felt that if Cabinet does not approve the "sin tax", and cannot come up with another funding alternative, which it can scarcely find in such lean times, the NHI program could be discontinued. Whatever ends up happening, it's been a disappointing denouement for a popular program that was promised to be rolled out to the Northside, then, to southern Belize, and now, rolling only downhill.