The Ministry of Health said today (Wednesday) that it was reviewing security measures at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) after a patient there was shot Wednesday night.
The ministry said in a statement that at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, there was a shooting incident involving a warded patient at MCMH.
“There were no physical injuries to any staff members or other patients as a result of this disturbing incident,” the ministry said.
The statement said that the ministry, including the management team at the MCMH, “wishes to commend the brave work of the team of health care workers on duty during this incident who remained focused on saving lives and the well being of our patients.
The ministry also acknowledged the additional support and security provided by the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force immediately after the incident.
The statement said that the ministry’s psychosocial team had been activated and commenced the provision of support to the healthcare team and the patients at the MCMH.
The ministry said it “commits to reviewing the security measures currently in place at the MCMH and our other facilities with a view to the implementation of additional measures identified to be necessary.
“The MOHWE requests the support of the nation as we continue to work to provide health care services in safe and health enhancing environments.”
Meanwhile, well-placed sources told iWitness News on Wednesday that two people were taken into custody in the Edinboro-Ottley Hall in connection with the shooting of Connel Jack, 26, a gunshot victim at the hospital Tuesday night.
Jack, a resident of Ottley Hall was warded at MCMH in connection with two gunshot injuries he sustained in his community around 9 p.m. Sunday.
After the attack, he ran to the police substation in the village and the officer transported him to the MCMH, sources said.
Jack was shot again in hospital about 12 hours after Camran Miller aka Boogie was shot in the head and killed in Ottley Hall.
Miller’s death brings the 2024 homicide count in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to eight.
Let’s get at the root causes of this violence: rampant poverty, embarassingly high unemployment rates – particularly for youth, and a justice system that doesn’t appear to be discouraging violent crime nor curbing recidivism. Oh, and let’s quit blaming high-maintenance women, O.K.!