THE Guyana Government said the new deal it has struck with the Indian Government to finance the construction of the Specialty Hospital and also the upgrade of three regional hospitals is a serious indictment of the recklessness of the PPP who had signed off the major project with a company that has failed to deliver and has so far refused to honour a High Court judgment to repay the State some $902,192,483.Government’s statement comes hours after PPP executive Gail Teixeira told a news conference on Thursday that her party has been “vindicated” with regard to the issue of the controversial Specialty Hospital project.

The Chronicle first reported on Wednesday that government will be going ahead with construction of the multi-billion-dollar Specialty Hospital here, but under a new agreement with India. The new arrangement will see unused funds from the original deal–some US$14M–being channelled towards the upgrade of three of the country’s regional hospitals, while a new pact will be negotiated for completion of the medical facility.

On its assumption of office, the David Granger-led administration had indicated that it would prefer the funds for the hospital to be used for primary healthcare delivery.

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, told the Guyana Chronicle that talks are continuing on the Specialty Hospital between the Governments of Guyana and India. Government, the minister said, received what can only be described as “an offer of a lifetime”, whereby the Government of India will permit the Government of Guyana to use the remaining US$14M from the Specialty Hospital Project towards the upgrading of the West Demerara, Suddie and Bartica Regional Hospitals, while still being able to benefit from funding for a new Specialty Hospital.
Dr Norton explained that the approach taken by the Government of India is one that has the potential of benefiting all Guyanese. Put simply, he said what they’re actually saying is: “Use your money to do your primary healthcare system in your three hospitals, but we will continue to do the Specialty Hospital.”

However, at her party’s news conference yesterday, Teixeira said: “We have been vindicated, in the sense that they lost two years on the hospital thanks to the behaviour of the then opposition…the project was stymied and obstructed deliberately by the same people that are coming back to it now.” The party’s parliamentary spokesperson on Public Health, Dr. Frank Anthony also said that Minister Norton has not outlined in detail how the remaining money from the past allocation will be spent and who will be funding the project. “According to reports, we were made aware that the US$14M is now going to be used on Suddie, West Demerara and Bartica Hospitals.” He said more information is needed on how much money will be allocated to each hospital and what it would be used for.
RECKLESS SIGNING

But the administration responded saying that, “…it was the PPP, despite the vehement protestations of the then combined APNU and AFC opposition, which concluded and forced through a shady deal with Surendra Engineering Company Limited (SECL). This deal cost the Guyanese taxpayers over $900M, which represents the amount that the dubious SECL drew down before disappearing.”
According to the government, the re-negotiation of the medical facility contract by the coalition government, with the Government of India has not vindicated the PPP “but rather has further indicted that reckless regime for signing off a major project with this highly questionable company against whom a High Court judgment was given to the tune of $902,192,483.”
Government said that for Teixeira and the PPP to now suggest that they have been vindicated is absurdity of no ordinary kind. “The credit for this new extended package of the construction of a Specialty Hospital along with the upgrade of three major medical institutions – Suddie Hospital, Bartica Hospital and the West Demerara Regional Hospital – ought to be given specifically to the Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton and his team and the coalition government in general.
No amount of verbal machinations by Ms Teixeira can deny or mask this. The government is confident that the public will see this lame scheme by Ms. Teixeira for what it is.”
Government also gave its solemn commitment that consistent with its policy, these newly negotiated projects will be executed with the highest level of transparency. “It is unquestionable that when completed, these significant health sector projects will redound to the direct benefit of residents in regions 2, 3 and 7 who will receive vastly improved primary health care in addition to all Guyanese who will receive specialised care at the Specialty Hospital,” the statement ended.