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Jagdeo defends Govt. hiring Trinidadian doctors
– says global recruitment will continue for skilled professionals
(Kaieteur News) – General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), and second Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, has defended the government’s decision to import doctors from Trinidad and Tobago.
Jagdeo was asked by reporters to explain why the government moved to import the Trinidadian doctors.
“Everywhere where we [can] get health workers, wherever they come from, we are recruiting now because we want to make sure, until we train up our people… we’re not going to be able to fully man these hospitals with our own healthcare professionals right now,” he said.
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Bharrat Jagdeo.
Jagdeo explained that the Ministry of Health has a massive training programme, but until locals are properly trained, “we made it clear, we are recruiting from anywhere in the world, once they are skilled people.”
On December 10, 2025 Kaieteur News reported that the recent announcement by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar that scores of doctors from the twin island will be contracted to provide medical services in Guyana, sparked questions from opposition member of parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul.
The Trinidadian leader revealed that new partnerships are being established between Trinidad and Guyana, to offer employment opportunities for medical professionals.
She said, “Dr. Bholo and the minister of health (are discussing) to hire in Guyana doctors from Trinidad and Tobago because we have so many well-trained doctors and with all the new hospitals opening up in Guyana we are working on a partnership.”
The prime minister added that the initial batch of doctors from T&T could be about 50.
To this end, Mahipaul on Tuesday raised a dozen questions concerning the development, calling on the government to be fully transparent on the issue.
He has asked the government to state the specialisation of the doctors to be hired and the number of medical professionals to serve in each specialty.
Mahipaul also asked about the duration of contracts; expected salaries, allowances and other costs to be funded by government such as housing, transportation and others.
The MP has also raised questions over the placement of doctors at specific health facilities across the country. He queried, “Where will these doctors be placed within the public health system? Are they intended for regional hospitals, health centres, or the Georgetown Public Hospital? What criteria or process was used to select these doctors, and were local doctors given priority or consideration? How will this decision impact opportunities, morale, and career progression for Guyanese medical professionals currently in the system?”
In addition to the projected cost of this initiative, Mahipaul questioned whether the names and credentials of the doctors will be made public for the purpose of independent verification and background checks.
Further, the MP asked whether the decision was subject to any bilateral agreement, and if so, whether the details of that agreement will be tabled in the National Assembly.
Mahipaul noted that Guyanese have every right to full disclosure on this matter, especially given the financial, professional, and societal implications. “Transparency must be the foundation of any decision involving foreign recruitment within our healthcare sector,” he urged.
With no timeline set for the next sitting of the national assembly, the MP said he publicly highlighted his questions which will also be shared in parliament.
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