This story is developing and will be updated.
November 19 2018
President David Granger has had a first round of chemotherapy in Cuba for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and has been given permission by his doctors to travel. He is scheduled to return to Guyana tomorrow. He may have to return to Cuba for further treatment.
The Embassy of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in the Republic of Cuba wishes to issue this second Press Statement with respect to the medical treatment and recovery of His Excellency, Brigadier David Arthur Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, in the Republic of Cuba.
Given the diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, the President’s Medical Team has performed a number of medical interventions. Thus far, His Excellency, the President, has received the first round of chemotherapy treatment and, according to the Medical Team, has responded very well.
With the President’s highly specialized medical care and treatment for nearly three weeks – and his positive response to the medical interventions and treatment – his Medical Team of Cuban Specialists has given approval for him to travel to Guyana.
The Embassy of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is pleased to officially inform that His Excellency, the President, would depart Havana on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, and will arrive in Guyana on the evening of the same day.
The President continues his daily routine of work, treatment and rest under the supervision of his Medical Team. On Friday, November 9, 2018, he met Cuba’s First Vice-President, His Excellency Salvador Valdes Mesa (who was performing the duties of the President of Cuba), and Vice-Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), the Honorable Ana Teresita Gonzalez Fraga, to discuss a number of matters of mutual interest.
His Excellency, President David Granger, wishes to reiterate publicly his deep appreciation to His Excellency, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermuda, President of the Republic of Cuba; Army General Raul Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba; the Honorable Jose Angel Portal Miranda, Minister of Public Health; His Excellency, Narciso Reinaldo Amador Socorro, Ambassador of Cuba in Guyana and, indeed, the Government of the Republic of Cuba for the excellent arrangements that were put in place for his arrival in Cuba and his subsequent extraordinary medical treatment in CIMEQ.
His Excellency, the President, reiterates his public gratitude to Guyanese in the Homeland and in the Diaspora; the office of the United Nations in Cuba; to the many Prime Ministers, former Prime Ministers and Presidents; to the Dean of the CARICOM Diplomatic Caucus in Cuba and the entire Caucus; the Guyana Red Cross Society; the Central Islamic Organization (CIOG); to his friends and colleagues – they are too many to be named here – and all those who sent their best wishes for his full and complete recovery – and his speedy return to Guyana to again serve the national interest. He is ever grateful for their prayers and support.
His Excellency, the President, would like to publicly thank the Management of CIMEQ; his Team of Medical Specialists; the Team of Nurses; the other medical staff of CIMEQ, and his Security and Protocol Detail for their professionalism, the special care and attention which he has received and for the excellent facilities in which he has been accommodated.
His Excellency, the President, may be required to return to Havana in a time prescribed by his Medical Team in order to examine and evaluate the progress of his recovery – and to extend his schedule of treatment.
Halim Majeed
Ambassador of Guyana to the Republic
