Vice President and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, responded to a recent Stabroek News editorial on healthcare equity, highlighting global issues affecting Indigenous communities.
While he agreed with the piece’s statement that “every man, woman and child deserves the same chance at a healthy life, whether they live in Region One or Georgetown,” Jagdeo said the article implied that the PPP government excludes Amerindians from health opportunities, a claim he firmly rejected.
Jagdeo pointed to the APNU+AFC administration’s record from 2015 to 2020, stating that during that period, 2,000 Amerindians lost their jobs, the land titling program was stopped, and health and education development “practically tanked” due to budget cuts.
Highlighting current efforts, Jagdeo said the PPP is building three general hospitals in Moruca (Region One), Kato (Region Eight), and Lethem (Region Nine), all of the same quality as coastal hospitals.
He pointed out that the contract for a hospital in Kamarang (Region Seven) will be awarded soon, and that the government plans to either upgrade or rebuild the Bartica Hospital. He added that the PPP eliminated widespread drug shortages in the interior, trained thousands of healthcare professionals, and upgraded health posts and health centres across hinterland regions.
Jagdeo also noted that over $14 billion from LCDS funds has been allocated to Amerindian communities in the last three years, allowing villages to decide how the money is used.
Additionally, communities have benefited from presidential grants, tractors, 36,000 solar panels, and $15 billion spent on roads, which he said demonstrate the PPP’s active engagement with Indigenous development.
