Dr Ramsammy debunks former First Lady’s accusation

Jan 24, 2009 News

Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has made it quite clear that he never had a conversation with former first lady, Varshnie Singh, during which he indicated to her that President Bharrat Jagdeo instructed him not to provide any assistance to her or Kids First Fund.

At a press conference recently, Singh stated that she has been taking children to India since 2005 for open heart surgery and spent thousands of US dollars which the Ministry of Health, until last year, would contribute to.

She stated, “My experience with Minister Ramsammy in 2007 left me disappointed with him and our President. The Minister told me the applications were turned down at the Cabinet level and the President instructed him not to help me or Kids first Fund.”

However, in an invited comment, yesterday, Minister Ramsammy said that he had many conversations with the former First Lady as it relates to medical assistance, but not once did her ever say such a thing about the President.

“The President of Guyana does not instruct me on who should get help and who shouldn’t. We have rules. People who are sick and cannot afford medical assistance can apply to us… we are unable to give everyone everything they need,” Minister Ramsammy told reporters.

He explained that at one time, the former First Lady came to the Ministry’s office and her cheque was not ready.

Minister Ramsammy said, “You just can’t show up at the Ministry and in 30 seconds get a cheque. She had to leave for India and when she came back, she got her money and this is what she might have been referring to.”

He added that the Ministry supports children and adults with medical assistance and, as their case are considered when they apply.

“We have a long list of people…We cannot give a child or any other person preference based on who sent them or who they came through…we give preference to the sickest and those in need and that’s the system. No child has been denied assistance,” the health minister said.

According to Dr. Ramsammy, his ministry has a limit to the amount of money given out for medical assistance, and when persons require more than the limit, then it has to be submitted to cabinet’s agenda.

In this regard, he added that in his nine years as Minister of Health, he is not aware once when Cabinet rejected his request for medical assistance to anyone.