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Govt. must justify Jagdeo’s medivac as cost effective
… this must be of concern to the taxpayers of the country – Greenidge
“One would expect that the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud and/or the Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, or whoever’s medical advice was sought, would be able to justify as cost effective, the decision to charter a jet from Florida to Guyana and back, to medivac former President, Bharrat Jagdeo for treatment. The Government
Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo
needs to justify this.”
This was the assertion of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s, Financial Spokesperson, Carl Greenidge, who has been one of the fiercest critics of the open-ended nature of the Former President’s Benefits (and other Amenities) Act.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Jagdeo contracted dengue and it is for this reason he was flown overseas for medical treatment. When he was flown out of Guyana on Friday evening last, Jagdeo was reportedly suffering from persistent fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
“Surely the cost of the overseas trip for the former President must be of concern to the taxpayers of the country, as it is they who would be footing the Bill!” Greenidge exclaimed.
He declined however to comment on where a private person would want to seek treatment for whatever ailment they may have, but reiterated that since it is tax dollars being used, the resort to overseas treatment must be defensible.
Greenidge again drew reference to the fact that it is not the individual that the opposition has a problem with, but rather the open-ended nature of the law.
He noted as an example that the President can adopt how many persons he wants after he would have demitted office and that they too would become eligible for benefits under the Law, all of which would have to be paid for with taxpayers’ dollars.
Efforts to contact CMO, Dr Persaud, yesterday proved futile, however Minister of Health, Bheri Ramsaran is on record saying that the Former President, Jagdeo, is a private citizen and can choose to seek medical help wherever he wants.
Asked repeatedly about the fact that it is the State that would have to foot the bill for Jagdeo’s treatment, the Minister maintained that it is a ‘private matter’.
APNU’s Carl Greenidge
Asked whether the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), could not have dealt with Jagdeo’s fever, vomiting and diarrhea, the Minister said that this is possible, but was adamant that he was unaware of what was afflicting the former President and as such could not offer an informed comment. He said that like any private citizen, Jagdeo is entitled to choose wherever he wants to seek medical attention.
Jagdeo was flown to a Florida Hospital, Friday evening and accompanying him was Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, who was described as his best friend.
How long Jagdeo has had this condition is still to be ascertained.
A privately-owned Lear jet out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) shortly after 21:00 hours Friday night to medivac Jagdeo to the United States.
His entourage, comprising Dr. Ramroop and his security detail arrived at the airport at 22:00 hours that night. The aircraft took off for Florida at 22:30 hours.
This publication understands that the chartering of a Lear Jet, from Florida to Guyana and back for a medivac, would cost between US$35,000 ($7M) and US$40,000 ($8M). This would be in addition to the thousands more that would be used to pay the hospital bill and other expenditure related to his illness.
In May 2009, then President Jagdeo assented to the controversial Former Presidents (Benefits and Facilities) Bill bringing it into law.
Minister of Health,
Dr Bheri Ramsaran
Under that Act, he and his successors would receive free medical attention and medical treatment, paid for by the state, or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by them for the medical attention or treatment of themselves and the dependant members of their family.
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