– R3PSInc head says families can now benefit from new free mortuary service

THE commissioning of a new mortuary at the West Demerara Hospital on Wednesday has been welcomed as a significant improvement in support services for families across Region Three, with Head of the Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc), Halim Khan, describing the facility as a practical intervention that can ease financial and logistical pressures following the death of a loved one.
The facility is designed to provide secure holding and storage of deceased persons pending release or further procedures, while also offering autopsy and body-preparation services.
Khan, who was present for the commissioning, said the availability of the mortuary at the public hospital is particularly important for lower-income families who may otherwise face additional expenses while making arrangements for their deceased relatives.

“This is a good initiative because when somebody is alive they don’t have much, and when they die, you are going to find persons taking advantage of them,” Khan said, stressing the need to minimise the financial burden placed on grieving families.
One of the key benefits, he noted, is that deceased persons can be kept at the hospital’s mortuary free of cost, pending their release to relatives or authorised funeral agencies.
Khan said the facility will also accommodate the religious and cultural practices of Guyana’s diverse population, including Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities.
The mortuary includes a chapel service and a dedicated room for grieving relatives, while facilities are available for the preparation of deceased persons in accordance with the requirements of families and their religious traditions.
The facility will also support autopsies, which will be coordinated with the relevant team from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), according to information provided at the commissioning.
Khan said the new facility could help create a more organised process for families while reducing the need to rely immediately on private funeral facilities for the storage of deceased relatives.
He said another area that could benefit from greater coordination is the supply of coffins and other funeral-related services. Khan suggested that the relevant agencies could compile information on coffin makers and service providers serving different religious communities, allowing families to make informed choices directly with private providers.
He stressed, however, that such services would remain privately paid services, unlike the storage of deceased persons at the hospital mortuary.
The commissioning was attended by representatives of the Regional Administration, including the Regional Chairman, Regional Executive Officer, Vice-Chairperson and Regional Health Officer, as well as hospital administrators and representatives of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities.
The new mortuary is expected to strengthen the hospital’s support services and provide a more dignified and appropriate environment for the management of deceased persons.
For Region Three residents, the facility could also reduce some of the logistical difficulties families encounter at an already difficult time, particularly where a death occurs at the hospital and relatives require time to make funeral arrangements.
Khan said the investment should therefore be viewed not simply as another hospital facility, but as a service that responds directly to the needs of families and communities.
“It is free of cost,” he emphasised, pointing to the potential benefit for families who may already be facing significant expenses associated with funeral arrangements.
The development comes as the Government continues to upgrade healthcare infrastructure across Guyana. The existing West Demerara Hospital has been undergoing improvements, while construction is also under way on a new West Demerara Regional Hospital expected to significantly expand healthcare capacity in Region Three.
Khan said the new mortuary represents an important addition to that broader development, particularly because dignified care should extend beyond medical treatment and include appropriate support for families following the death of a loved one.
The facility’s services include deceased-person storage, autopsy coordination and body preparation prior to release to relatives or authorised funeral agencies, strengthening the hospital’s ability to provide a more comprehensive support system for the Region Three community.
The R3PSInc Head said these investments demonstrate a broader commitment by President Ali and his administration to modernising the country’s healthcare system and ensuring that the benefits of development reach communities across the country.
According to Khan, Guyana’s rapid transformation, coupled with investments in healthcare, infrastructure and other public services, has the potential to place the country at the forefront of Caribbean development. He said the pace and breadth of projects being undertaken should position Guyana as an example for other countries in the region.