Casino gambling report incorrect
Guyana Chronicle
January 12, 2007
OUR report on page three yesterday on the casino gambling bill incorrectly reported Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy on remarks he made Wednesday.
The minister in a statement yesterday said the article’s opening paragraph erroneously quoted him as saying that the casino gaming bill would have been sent to the Special Select Committee during yesterday’s sitting of the National Assembly.
The statement read:
“What the Minister actually said was that today the Bill would have its first reading in the National Assembly.
Dr. Ramsammy’s comment regarding the Select Committee related to the Health Facilities Licensing Bill, also due for the House today. Minister Ramsammy indicated that this bill would be sent to a Special Select Committee before it is read for the second time. Private Medical Practitioners and others who have concerns about the Bill, can then forward these to the Select Committee. This is the first time that the Standing Order 54 is being used in the country. Previously, bills were read for the second time before (these) could be sent to the Special Select Committee. In the reformed Standing Order, it is now being made possible and would be used by the Ninth Parliament of Guyana.
Speculations about the intent of the Health Facilities Licensing Bill surfaced. Private doctors were concerned that the Bill is seeking to regulate practices within the offices of private doctors. Minister Ramsammy strongly emphasised that the Bill is intended to strengthen regulation of public and private hospitals, laboratories, dialysis centres, imaging centres (MRI and CT scan), surgical clinics (where major surgeries are being done) and cancer treatment centres that provide radiotherapy.
However, to take the concerns of private doctors and others into consideration, the Bill would be sent to the Special Select Committee today before the second reading.”
We deeply regret the mix-up and extend our sincerest apologies to Dr. Ramsammy.
* conveyed to the public that the orders granted by the court were based on considerations other than settled legal principles.