Men threaten staff

The Sangre Grande Health Centre (SGHC) at Henderson Street was yesterday forced to shut its doors after two men threatened to “shoot up the place and kill people.”

Workers are traumatised by the episode and the facility will reopen on Monday with an additional security guard on duty. Reports indicate that at 7am yesterday the lone Maintenance Training and Security (MTS) guard on duty was distributing numbers to people waiting to see the dentist. Fewer numbers were handed out because the dentists had a meeting to attend. Two men who were unable to get numbers became irate despite being given an explanation. They demanded immediate treatment. The guard asked them to leave and from outside the Centre they shouted threats. One of the men said when he saw them on the street they would get “a few slugs.” A gun was reportedly seen. The episode caused the closure of the Health Centre and workers refused to work until more security guards are hired.

A worker said the incident is the “climax” of the problems experienced at the facility. She said there are frequent break-ins and verbal abuse disgruntled persons “nearly every Monday.” The facility is often crowded because insufficient seats are available. She said a new building is needed. A report has been made with the Sangre Grande police and investigations are being conducted by Cpl Deosaran and PC Khan. However, yesterday Essau Mohammed, Chief Executive Officer for the Eastern Regional Health Authority (which manages the SGHC) who  met with staff about the incident, told Newsday that only one man had threatened staff. He said an additional guard has been requested from MTS, in addition to them having “some level of defence.”