NHI CONCERNED CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS GROUP P.O. BOX 4240 ROAD TOWN, TORTOLA, VG 1110 BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Telephone-‐ 284-‐441-‐8422
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release December 31, 2015 Response to Premier's letter dated 22nd December 2015 We wish to acknowledge the receipt of the Premier's long awaited and overdue letter of 22nd December 2015 responding to our petition submission and cover letter of 13th October 2015. We were disheartened by the Premier's vague statement, “...we have reviewed and will be taking your suggestions into consideration, wherever possible,” which does not specifically address the concerns raised in the petition and cover-‐letter and does not provide relief to the people that any changes will be made at all. Furthermore, we remain deeply disappointed in the Premier's decision to continue practically undeterred by the cries of the people as pointed out by the NHI Concerned Citizens and Residents Group. We, the members of the group, offered a formula for achieving a most equitable and optimal system through the collaboration of the public, the business and corporate community and the public sector. We continue to believe that such an approach is an unbeatable one and one that will produce a win-‐win solution for all concerned. Unfortunately, by the Government's actions, it would seem they prefer the path of autocracy and dissension. While the Government is encouraged by the thousands of people registering, it is worth noting that many of those persons did so under duress, severe threat, and coercion. Therefore, a process that is not fair and free cannot be used as a means of gauging support for the NHI.
NHI CONCERNED CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS GROUP P.O. BOX 4240 ROAD TOWN, TORTOLA, VG 1110 BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Telephone-‐ 284-‐441-‐8422 We do not know what the motivation is for the Government continuing on this particular course, whether it is for political expediency or political face saving, but whatever it is, we think it is unfortunate. What we do know, however, is that we, NHI Concerned Citizens and Residents Group, are committed to a course of action for the benefit of all our people, and we shall press on with our goal of affecting a change in the present situation. We have upped the ante by soliciting the intervention of the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and we are considering other options, including legal challenges and political action. We want to thank the close to 1,000 people who signed our petition as well as the silent majority, unwilling to sign because of fear and various forms of intimidation. We appreciate the support you have given thus far and ask for your continued support going forward. You are deserving of a process where your voice matters, which is equivalent to real democracy – government for the people, of the people, and by the people!.