– Guyana now boasts of being the only country in the Caribbean, and one of few worldwide, that has an aquatic oral health care service
THE Government, through the Ministry of Health, has commissioned a state-of-the-art Dental Boat at Charity, Essequibo Coast. Addressing scores of residents at the commissioning ceremony at the Charity waterfront on Monday, Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean, and one of few in the world that has an aquatic oral health care service.
Minister Ramsammy said the state-of-the-art dental boat is a testimony of the Government’s commitment to provide efficient and quality oral health care service to every Guyanese living along the banks of the Pomeroon River, creeks and Moruca River.

Minister Ramsammy also singled out the late former President Janet Jagan, who was the country’s first Health Minister, as still the country’s best Health Minister. Dr. Ramsammy said the Dental Boat Lady ‘J’ will also serve as a special ambulance along the rivers to bring emergency cases to the Charity Hospital.
The boat is equipped with sophisticated dental equipment and two dental chairs.
Before cutting the ribbon on the Lady ‘J’ to formally commission the boat, Minister Ramsammy burst a water coconut as part of the blessings on the dental boat, as rain poured from above.
Present at the commissioning ceremony were Regional Vice Chairman, Vishnu Samaroo, Permanent Secretary, Hydar Ally, Parliamentarian, Parmanand Persaud, Regional Executive Officer, Sunil Singh and several Government officials, school children and residents.