“Govt did not pay for my medical evacuation”

– Jagdeo slams Opposition, media for distorting the truth

In the wake of fresh allegations, most recently last Sunday’s Editorial in the Stabroek News, about his medical evacuation from Guyana in February 2014 being paid for by Government, former President Bharrat Jagdeo has again confirmed that his expenses were not funded by the State.

According to figures released on July 10 last year in Parliament, there were absolutely no Government payments related to a medical evacuation of the President back in February 2014, which the Opposition had claimed.

When the former President took ill, upon medical advice, he was taken to a hospital in Florida in the US to be treated and upon his recovery, returned to Guyana.

Immediately, some sections of the media speculated and then reported as fact that the arrangements were all paid for by the Government of Guyana.

The Opposition politicians also jumped on the bandwagon to suggest the funds were paid for by the Government.

Taking note of all the allegations, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the time pointed out that the Party has never questioned the urgency or necessity of any Opposition politician or public official travelling abroad upon the instruction of their medical advisors or caregivers.

“The PPP/C wishes to remind the Opposition that several of its members, including former Opposition Leader Robert Corbin and the late Sheila Holder, benefited from assistance from the State to seek medical attention abroad when it became necessary.

“Even to this day, the self-proclaimed independent press has never questioned the quantum of Corbin being medivaced.

“In the most recent past when former Deputy Speaker Deborah Backer was ill and flown abroad for medical attention, this Party offered nothing but best wishes and hopes of a speedy recovery,” the PPP/C said in a statement.”

The same courtesies had been extended to Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman Nigel Hughes when he fell ill in the interior.

Against the background of no payment being made by Government for Jagdeo’s expenses, the Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News obdurately refused to report the truth of the matter.

Instead, they again went on to imply that they had been covered by the State.

From the onset of the former President’s medical evacuation, the Opposition refused to even consider that the trip was not funded by the Government.

Speaking with this publication, the former President reiterated that his medical evacuation and treatment at the time of his illness did not come from Government.