Black-clad Senator Joseph mourns the state of public healthcare during surprise picket at MoH

Senator Johnathan Joseph, along with a small group of supporters,
took to the picket line on Monday morning, February 19, in front of

the Ministry of Health headquarters on lower High and Long Streets,
in protest of the failing healthcare sector.

Joseph and his placard-bearing colleagues walked in a circle just
outside the entrance to the Ministry, calling for the minister, Sir
Molwyn Joseph to be sacked from his position or resign.
 
Senator Joseph carried two placards stating, “Molwyn – wus Health
Minister in the Caribbean” and “Murder, Murder, Hospital pan Fire,
Heat a kill R we. “
 
REAL News correspondent George Wehner visited the scene and
spoke with Senator Joseph, who reiterated previous concerns about
the healthcare system being in crisis.

For the occasion, Joseph was clad in black – which he says he will
continue to wear while he mourns for public healthcare.
He notes that one community clinic after another has been closed,
because of poor maintenance, including mold, and the lack of
supplies.
 
The senator also points to the cancer patients who have been
affected by the closure of the Eastern Caribbean Cancer Centre
under the watch of Sir Molwyn.
 
The Dialysis Unit, meanwhile, is bursting at the seams, and Joseph
calls for the promised new centre to treat kidney-disease patients to
be completed as soon as possible.
 

He made yet another call for the health minister to be relieved of his
portfolio.

Given all these shortcomings, says Joseph, the United Progressive
Party caretaker for St. Mary’s North, he will be out again on
Thursday, February 22 – this time, picketing the Parliament – and he
is inviting other nationals and residents to join him.

Senator Johnathan Joseph.
 
Joseph bemoaned the fact that, only a few weeks ago, some persons
were asking other patients who use the same insulin medication to
share, while the Browne Administration was spending $400,000 on
palm trees to line the Friars Hill Road. 
 
Two weeks ago, UPP caretaker Pearl Quinn-Williams staged a one-
woman picket at the same location. At the time, a press conference
was underway, with Sir Molwyn attempting to paint a rosy picture
of the crumbling health infrastructure.