Fort Charlotte MP Dr. André Rollins recently sounded off on the government for trying to implement universal health care when there are a large number of medical officials who are leaving the country.

“In our Family Islands throughout this country, we now have a problem where nurses can’t get paid, nurses who are leaving this country with the expertise that is so desperately needed as an auxiliary care feature in our public health system and they’re leaving this country in droves because they are not being paid,” Dr. Rollins said.

Taking offence to his comments was the Prime Minister Perry Christie who responded by saying that the exodus of qualified nurses is the result of an international problem.

“Professionals are being recruited by the United States of America, in a meeting with prime ministers the Vice President of the United States Joe Biden told us on two occasions that the US is not going to apologize for recruiting the best and the brightest in the Caribbean.

“Our country has been built on recruiting the best and the brightest, yes our professionals are being attracted to America and it is compellingly urgent situation that we have to deal with across the board.

“That is happening because of the shortage of professional skills that exists there,” Mr. Christie said.

This is not the first time the two have clashed in the house, with the Prime Minister recently apologized during a house session saying he was sorry to the Bahamas for burdening them with Rollins.

Rollins who crossed the floor in November of last year to become a member of the Free National Movement, quit after government members made several attempts to block him from contributing to last year’s budget debate in the House of Assembly.

The Ft Charlotte MP lamented the fact that the party which had helped him get elected to the House of Assembly made empty promises of change to the Bahamian people.

Debate on the NHI debate resumes on Monday.