Specialty hospital will be completed with partners collaboration
– Finance Minister
THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) intends to complete the construction of the Specialty Hospital, in collaboration with the project’s developmental partners. Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh made it known at a press conference, following Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly, where the combined Opposition withheld approval of sections of Financial Paper number seven of 2011.
Under section ‘B’ of the document, dealing with capital estimates, the $29.1M that was sought for infrastructural works for the building received no support from Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), who challenged the provision, on the basis that the facility was being funded by a loan.
However, Singh emphasised that the goal will be pursued to the benefit of the citizenry of this country.
“In the 2012 Budget, the project will be included as it was in 2011 and extra provisions made to continue the project. It is very much our intention to continue and complete the construction of this hospital,” he insisted.
In pronouncing on those developments, Presidential Advisor on Governance, Ms. Gail Teixeira indicated that, when the House meets again, on March 15, the proposal may be re-examined as the motion was not passed at Thursday’s session.
“Remember one thing, procedurally, the Bill was not passed, so we have to come back on the 15th to see if anything has changed. The contract was already issued; the contractor was on site; it is not new monies but monies that have been used; the work continues,” she maintained.

Land preparation
During consideration of the supplementary provisions requested for the Specialty Hospital Project, Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran explained that the sum required is to meet expenses associated with the land preparation at the site where this state-of-the-art facility will be built.
Minister Singh, supporting his colleague, explained that the loan provided by the India Exim Bank will cover the cost of construction and acquisition of certain basic equipment but not site preparation.
Despite the government’s presentation, there was a call for a division in the House, which resulted in 32 members voting against and 31 in favour. Therefore, the supplementary funding was not approved.
In addition, the combined Opposition also called for Financial Paper number eight to be re-submitted at the next sitting of the House, citing issues of transparency and details.
Unlike foreign specialty hospitals, the Government of Guyana will be working towards giving citizens services at reduced costs, so that everyone can benefit from this new venture in the health sector.
The hospital will be open to both citizens and non-citizens, although Guyanese living here will be afforded a subsidy, from which overseas based nationals may not be beneficiaries.
In February 2011, former President Bharrat Jagdeo and then Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran visited India and finalised the agreement to construct the 250-bed hospital that is to provide services, including cardio-related and cosmetic surgeries and organ transplants.
The Exim Bank of India has approved and made available the funding, on concessionary terms, for the construction. The contract for land preparation of the site was awarded to G. Bovell Construction Company Limited, to drain, grade and fill the land; construct a fence, bridges, gates, culverts and access road and install utilities.
Since then, the company has begun moving heavy machinery to undertake the work.