00:00Dr. Richard Cichuron described the Wednesday's move of 31-year-old Jamal Watts at the St.
00:06James Medical Complex as senseless and disheartening.
00:10He said the failing national security has translated into failing hospital security
00:15and more security is needed at public hospitals.
00:19We have to increase our security in our nation's hospitals and I'm hoping that in the upcoming
00:25budget, this 50-year budget of this PNM administration, that something is done to increase the level
00:33of security at our nation's hospitals and healthcare institutions.
00:37Dr. Cichuron said based on a report he received, there's illegal gun trade taking place in
00:43this country.
00:44We actually had access to a UN report recently titled the Caribbean gangs, guns, firearms
00:52and gangs and they made a reference to the fact that these gangs in Venezuela are trading
01:00with our gangs here in Trinidad and Tobago, they are trading guns and we on this side
01:05are giving them food.
01:06He said more work has to be done by the Ministry of Health to protect staff and patients at
01:11the nation's hospitals, as he recounted an incident which took place at a health facility.
01:17Just recently, I actually had to visit a relative at the priority care facility in
01:24Montauk and while I was there outside the facility, a group of men came and they wanted
01:30to see their comrade that was being treated in the facility and they were very aggressive
01:36and belligerent with the security guard that was on duty and it was a lone security guard,
01:41it was an unarmed security guard and I felt sorry for this guy because there was no way
01:47he could control the situation with these three or four individuals.
01:51Our doctors, our nurses, our health care technicians, the auxiliary staff, the patients, no one
01:58feels safe and more has to be done by the Minister of Health and I'm hoping and I'm
02:05asking him to do something about the security in our health institutions in the upcoming
02:09book.
02:10The opposition MP urged health care workers to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings.
02:16Charlotte Kistel, TV6 News.
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