Van West-Charles returns for active role in PNC

Apr 13, 2009 News

Dr. Richard Van West- Charles, a former Minister under the People’s National Congress (PNC) government says he is returning to Guyana by the end of this month and has declared his intentions to play an active role in the party, which has been the main opposition party since 1992.
In a statement, Van West-Charles said he is returning home to “continue his contribution to his native land and to strengthen the role of the People’s National Congress in creating a cohesive nation with equal opportunity for all its citizens regardless of race, color or creed.”

Dr Richard Van West Charles

Van West-Charles, a son-in-law of PNC founder and late President Forbes Burnham, joined the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) as Area Manager for Information and Knowledge Management in 1990, following a fast-track public health career in Guyana.
He was appointed Minister of Health, Water, Housing, and the Environment in 1980, just a year after receiving his medical degree from the University of Havana.
After five years in that post, he became Minister for Medical Education, Food Policy, and Environment.
He has served as PAHO Programme Officer for the Eastern Caribbean and PAHO/WHO representative in Jamaica and Bahamas. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan and has done private clinical practice as a General Practitioner. He holds dual citizenship in Guyana and Canada, where he completed his secondary and undergraduate education, the latter at McMaster University.
Over the years, Dr.Van West-Charles has visited annually and was invited to be President of a not-for-profit organization–Partnering and Networking for the Development of Guyana (PNDG) – dedicated to poverty alleviation and capacity building.
The motto of the Guyana not-for-profit organization is “Safeguarding our future and protecting the vulnerable.”
In his capacity as President of the PNDG, Dr. Van West-Charles has established a network of concerned Guyanese, at home and abroad, and together they are working to bring relief to many families and a number of Guyanese communities, a statement from his Diaspora Co-chairs claimed.
The organisation, under its capacity building program, has donated computers to churches and schools.
As Minister of Health, Water, Housing and Environment in the Guyana Government during the period 1980 – 1985, and later as Minister of Medical Education, Food Policy and Environment, Dr. Van West-Charles within his portfolio of Medical Education, led the team which established Guyana’s First School of Medicine at the University of Guyana (UG).
Dr. Van- West Charles served as a Member of Parliament, and was engaged in many CARICOM, Commonwealth and Non-Aligned Summits and initiatives.
He also did a stint as Guyana’s representative to the Governing Bodies of PAHO/WHO and the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
During his tenure with PAHO, he traveled extensively and met with top government officials of Latin America and the Caribbean and participated in many global and regional conferences.
In addition to health matters, Van West Charles resume boasts of experience in public administration, project management and implementation, politics, international affairs and diplomacy.
On his return to Guyana, Dr Van West-Charles will be accompanied by his wife Roxanne (nee Burnham).