Editorial:
The Easter weekend’s major news on Trinidad & Tobago’s electronic media highlighted concerns about the rise in Tuberculosis cases in the twin-island Republic. A female medical doctor was on air during the news advising the people of the nation to cover their mouths with their hands or handkerchiefs or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
The Grenadian people are not that lucky. When the spokesperson for the Grenada Bar Association publicly expressed concerns about the possibility of Tuberculosis at the Richmond Hill prison, the Association was immediately tied to Her Majesty’s official Opposition and they were severely hammered left, right and centre. Prominent medical doctors and professional health personnel also joined in this unholy and unscrupulous piece of carpentry with vehement denials and excuses.
The issue was put to rest for a little while as the people of Grenada focused on more pressing issues like rising cost of living and spying. However, the Tuberculosis issue again resurfaced when an Opposition Senator was able to be more specific on cases within the prison. This time the Health Minister/Senator did not deny but it was more an attitude like so what is the big thing. Worse is the fact that some of the nation’s weekly newspapers, in their major columns, joined in the condemnation and accusing persons of creating panic among the people. When would some politicians stop making fools of the Grenadian people by putting politics in to everything?
The southern course of Grenada is just about ninety miles from the north course of Trinidad. The heavy traffic of people and goods between the two nations is undisputed. As an example, just go down to the docks on a Friday and witness the operations when the vessels – Ocean Princess, Eldica David and Little Desrine – are in. If responsible media and health officials in Trinidad & Tobago are doing the sensible thing by alerting their people about the spread of the contagious disease, the dangerous consequences and some precautionary measures, shouldn’t local authorities follow soothe?
At the risk of being accused of creating panic among the people or being aligned with a political party, The Fearless Weekly is taking a page from the Trinidad & Tobago book in light of the close proximity and interaction between the two nations and peoples. Consider the congestion around the bus terminus for example; consider the conditions within enclosed areas like the air-conditioned work places or even inside the buses.
Persons should always remember to travel with a handkerchief or two, or some tissues which must be used to cover the mouth when sneezing or coughing. Covering with the hand is not advisable since there might be need to shake a friend’s hands soon afterwards or even to handle eatable things.
This piece of advice is not politically motivated; The Grenada Informer puts a person’s health before these unconscionable politicians, and God before everything. The poor people of Grenada must not forget that when these politicians become sick they fly to Miami on tax-payers’ expense. In fact they do not wait until they are sick; they go for “routine check-ups”. The ordinary person, on the other hand, must go up to the local hospital, wait twenty-four hours before being visited by a doctor, then sell their house or cow to pay for medication if available.
The Grenada Informer also joins the Grenada Bar Association in calling for testing of prisoners at the Richmond Hill before the next Assizes begin.
