On Thursday 5th, Nov we witnessed another troubling situation that raises serious questions about the state of our public emergency services, particularly here in Sangre Grande.
A passenger travelling on a bus suffered what appeared to be a heart attack. The passengers immediately called for an ambulance, and the bus stopped directly in front of Bliss Plaza. Thankfully, persons from the plaza, along with passengers on the bus, came together to assist the individual while waiting for emergency services.
I immediately contacted Officer Thomas, someone I can always depend on when situations like these arise. He responded swiftly to my call, and I must commend him for his willingness to assist.
However, what happened next is what really concerns me.
Officer Thomas pointed out the shortage of police vehicles available at the station. He arrived on his police motorcycle, and there was no ambulance and no police vehicle available to assist with the situation.
With time being critical in a medical emergency, we could not simply stand around and wait. We stopped a taxi and asked the driver to transport the individual directly to the hospital. When the individual indicated that he did not have any money to pay for the taxi, I told him not to worry. I paid the taxi fare, and Officer Thomas escorted him to the hospital.
Thankfully, we were able to get him on his way to receive medical attention.
But let us pause and think about this for a moment.
Why should a member of the public have to depend on the availability of a taxi during a life-threatening medical emergency?
Why are we struggling with a shortage of police vehicles? Why are ambulances not responding when people desperately need medical attention?
What if nobody was willing or able to pay for that taxi? What if those persons at Bliss Plaza and on the bus did not step forward? What if this was your mother, father, child or loved one?
We cannot continue to treat these situations as normal. Emergency services are not a luxury. They are an essential part of public safety and healthcare.
And I want to make it clear that this is not about criticising the officers who are doing their best with the limited resources available. Officer Thomas deserves recognition for responding promptly and doing what he could under the circumstances.
The bigger question is: Where is the support, the equipment and the resources needed to properly serve our communities?
Is this a Sangre Grande problem alone, or are communities across Trinidad and Tobago experiencing the same thing?
We need answers. We need accountability. And most importantly, we need action before another family has to experience a tragedy that could possibly have been prevented.
Today, it was a stranger. Tomorrow, it could be someone we love.
Sangre Grande deserves better. Trinidad and Tobago deserves better.
Sanjay K. Dass,
Sangre Grande
