Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves says he feels “so terrible” about the attack of a Cuban doctor in Kingstown, on Friday night, resulting in him being placed in intensive care at the nation’s main hospital.
Police are yet to comment on the incident, but iWitness News was reliably informed that Dr. Alfredo Batista Salgado, a member of the Cuban Medical Brigade, was on his way home to McKies Hill when he was cut across the abdomen, resulting in his intestines being exposed.
“I feel so terrible about this incident which happened where someone inflicted this very severe wound on a Cuban doctor,” Gonsalves said on WE FM on Sunday.
“I have been getting reports from the police,” said Gonsalves, who is also minister of national security.
He said he has also been keeping up to date with Minister of Health Jimmy Prince and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Cuthbert Knights.
“It is of great concern and the Cuban ambassador has been in touch with us and we have been in touch with him,” Gonsalves said.
“And we are hoping that he gets over this particular injury. But the Cuban people and the Cuban government know that we appreciate very much the work that they are doing and the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines show tremendous kindness to the Cuban professionals who are here.”
Gonsalves spoke of the excellent relationship between the Cuban medical professionals and the people and the other health workers in the Georgetown area, where many of the Cubans are based.
The prime minister noted that the attack on the doctor comes days after the announcement by Havana that it will grant 21 scholarships to Vincentians this year, an increase over last year’s figure.
The prime minister said he was surprised at the increase in light of “all of the difficulties that Cuba is facing”.
He said the scholarships are mainly in the medical field, including seven first degrees in medicine, seven degrees in nursing, four for post graduate studies in different specificalities in medicine and one in engineering.
“Despite all their challenges under this wicked, illegal embargo that the American government has on Cuba. It is cruel and they have been helping us very much and we have to thank them,” Gonsalves said.
iWitness News was reliably informed that prison guards found Salgado outside His Majesty’s Prison bleeding profusely and his intestines exposed.
Salgado, 53, who is the district medical officer for the Marriaqua health District and is based at the Levi Latham Health Centre, is said to have told police that he was on his way home after the calypso semi-finals at Victoria Park when someone attacked him.
iWitness News understands that the doctor suffered a large wound to his abdomen and lost a considerable amount of blood, resulting in being placed in intensive care.
There are a number of Cuban healthcare professionals performing various roles in the public and private healthcare sector in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The attack on the physician may cause Vincentians to remember a case in September 2019 where Cuban surgeon Horlirio Ferrer-Robaina saved the life of Byera resident Michael “Mike” Woods, who was disembowelled in a cutlass attack.
This is so disgusting. The Cuban community have been essential to our health care qhy cant we be more sensitive …smh.. Mr. PM i understand fully your feelings because im feeling the same way
Mr Prime minister I feel it with you, it’s so sad, some people are so heartless, I am praying for a speedy recovery. So sad.
Saint vincent is coming to dogs with all those violent there. Shame on you all.
Mr PM did you explain to the Cuban authorities that Vincy has one of the highest murder rates in the world and that it’s tantamount to a war zone? Sure you weren’t forthcoming with the truth about crime in Vincy which is being blamed on anything but your administration. Did you explain as you did in Trinidad recently that high maintenance women was one of the main reasons for the high murder rates in Vincy.?How have you been addressing this very serious issue of high maintenance women and and the crime wave we’re undergoing as a result of these women?$
Comrade this is the cry of ordinary Vincentians who ate killed, maimed and injured .Do you hear us when we cry? You hear tbe cty of your kit and kin when they suffer similar incidents for which you as minister of security was found napping.Just a question comrade if it was not one of your own would you respond in like manner? Indeed we dont wish this on anyone. However, it shows that when it rains everyone gets wet in the house.
This is terrible news, I met this Dr in 2019 when I was visiting my parents. No one should have to suffer this kind of thing, shameful that this sort of thing just doesn’t happen in places like SVG its being happening world wide, I pray for the Doctor to have a full recovery from this and the perpetrator to be caught and dealt with.
It is very sad and unfortunate what happened to the Cuban doctor, and I pray that he recovers fully. However, it is telling that the PM publicly and immediately expressed his sympathies and concerns about this hideous crime, but has never publicly expressed similar sentiments about the high incidents of murder, rape, and misogyny that affect Vincentians. Correct me if I am wrong, but I have never heard the PM express sympathy for the families of murder victims in SVG. No one life is more or less important than the other.
In my opinion, the PM’s attitude shows a total disregard and disrespect for the lives of Vincentians. Some may say that is an unfair criticism, but perception is reality. What could be more obvious than the disparaging remarks he made about Vincentian men and women while attending the Caricom crime summit in Trinidad. If such attitudes and policies persisted in other democratic countries, the local populace would have already voiced their dissatisfaction with social unrest and protests.
And what about the CARDI worker? Did not feel terrible for him to?