Following discussions with the Indian government, Guyana is moving to find consultants to prepare the way for the development of the West Demerara, Suddie and Bartica hospitals, which would be financed with a line of credit originally intended for the controversial speciality hospital project.
Finance Minister Winston Jordan told Stabroek News that the Indian government has made a new proposal that is in line with the administration’s desire to use the funds intended for the US$18 million project to improve primary healthcare facilities that have already been identified.
Jordan said the amount of funding made available under the loan could be increased or decreased.
In June, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had announced that the new APNU+AFC government was abandoning the controversial specialty hospital project and was hoping to have the remainder of the credit—around US$14 million—be made available for primary health care.
President David Granger and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions last Thursday in New York ahead of the 70th United Nations General Assembly.
Public Health Minister
Dr George Norton told Stabroek News that the line of credit was inherited from the former administration so it was imperative that the coalition speak with India on its intentions for the financing.
He said after discussions with the Indian government, Guyana is moving to hire consultants to address the concerns of the three facilities that have been identified.
Norton added that the government has identified the Suddie Hospital, the Bartica Hospital and the West Demerara Regional Hospital for major renovations and support.
“In Suddie, a complete renovation of the operating theatre is needed… Bartica, the main concern is infrastructure, at West Demerara same,” Norton said.
He said increasing the capacity of the facilities would benefit overall healthcare development throughout the country.
Norton also noted that expanding the potential of the hospitals outside of Region Four decentralises care and makes for quicker service to Guyanese.
He said that he is “not impressed with the rate at which these processes are taking place” but added that “we don’t want to rush, as uncomfortable as we are with the rate, systems have be put in place and there are legalities that have to be followed.”
He also said there would be open tendering to hire the consultants.
“We are not limiting to local, but cost is a big factor and we want to limit the amount spent on the consultancy because we, our government, will have to pay for that,” he said, while noting that the funding will not cover the consultancy.
Norton said he was not fully au fait with the restructuring of the loan, which was initially intended to finance Indian firm Surendra Engineering’s construction of the speciality hospital.
Norton said India’s government was also aware of the legal battle between the government of Guyana and Surendra, which the former PPP/C government sued last year to recover US$4.2 million in advance payments for the project. It had been forced to terminate the contract with the company.
Surendra no longer has a presence in Guyana.
