Government has, on Monday, issued a terse release, stating that President David Granger would today be going to Cuba for almost a week.
Guyana Times has however been told the President is unwell and would be going to Cuba for medical tests.
President David Granger
This was indeed confirmed by People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) General Secretary Amna Ally in an interview with sections of the media, whom she assured that the President was not expected to undergo surgery. Instead, she said, he would be undergoing a medical test in Havana, the capital of Cuba.
She also informed that the President called a meeting with Cabinet ministers from his Peoples Nation Congress (PNC) party on Monday. It is understood that while the President is out of the jurisdiction, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo will perform the functions of President, while Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge will perform the duties of Prime Minister.
In May of this year, the First Couple had travelled to the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to undergo what was referred to as their annual medical check-up. At the time, and in response to speculation in the press, the Government had revealed that the couple did their examinations under a Caribbean medical insurance scheme at the Good Health Medical Centre.
Those results, Government had said, indicated a clean bill of health. It was further explained that Mrs. Granger first joined the scheme 28 years ago as a staff member at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, and the President, as her spouse, was eligible to participate.
“The First Couple (have) been travelling to Trinidad and Tobago for annual medical examinations for over 12 years, long before the President’s entrance into politics. They will both undergo two more days of physical examination and medical tests as part of their annual medical check-up, which is usually done in August each year.
“However, President Granger opted to do those tests in May this year, so that he would be in Guyana for the lead up to Local Government Elections, which are due this year,” a release from the Government had said.
This time around, the fact that he is expected back on November 11 means the President will be just in time for Local Government Elections (LGE).
