Cabinet to review national health insurance plan in New Year

Last week the House of Representatives met for the last time this year and on Tuesday it was Cabinet’s turn to tie up loose ends. Florencio Marin, who officially retires from Cabinet at the end of the month to take up his appointment as the Chairman of the Commercial Free Zone, reported on the Panama Canal handing-over ceremonies earlier this month. While in Panama Marin also attended a meeting of Ministers of the Association of Caribbean States and supported an initiative to establish a special committee on natural disasters. Cabinet also discussed the proposed National Health Insurance Scheme following Minister Jose Coye’s recent visit to Canada to review their health insurance system. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget Planning, was asked to prepare a step by step program to implement the national scheme. The details will be considered early next year. Following requests from the districts, particularly Toledo, the Attorney General’s Ministry has been asked to step up its program of decentralizing the registry process so that residents can register births at district centers. Following a fire at San Pedro last weekend, Cabinet approved the purchase of two portable water pumps for the caye. WASA will also be asked to respond to requests for additional hydrants in Belize City. Cabinet will take a short break for the holidays and resume meetings on January fourth.