INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: SHAME ON THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH! GEMA’S $15M DEBT STRANGLES SMALL BUSINESSES

Almost four months after the end of a two month MOH training for out of town doctors and nurses, the small businesses that propped up the Ministry of Health’s operations are still waiting for their money. The Guyana Emergency Medicine Authority (GEMA), a department under the Ministry of Health, stands accused of a breathtaking display of disregard for the very small business owners it is supposed to serve, leaving a trail of unpaid bills totaling an estimated $15 million.

Reports reaching this publication paint a picture of an agency that has gone silent on its obligations, showing a level of contempt for local vendors that is as baffling as it is infuriating. In a nation that proudly touts itself as an oil-producing powerhouse, the ministry’s refusal to pay its bills is not just an embarrassment, it is a disgrace.

The saga began in June when GEMA hired several vendors to accommodate and support out-of-town medical staff. Services included rental accommodation, daily meals and snacks, juice and coconut water, transportation via buses and cars, and the rental of tables, chairs, and tents. The staff moved into a rented house in June and left in August. To date, none of the vendors have been paid a single cent.