Cops deliver baby girl in Penal Police Station

A POLICEMAN who put a pot of water to boil to make coffee early yesterday  morning, ended up using it to sterilise a pair of scissors to cut the umbilical cord of a baby who was delivered inside the Penal Police Station. Five police officers changed roles from lawmen to “midwives” to deliver a healthy 2.7 kg baby girl. Yesterday, both baby and mother were reportedly doing well at the San Fernando General Hospital.

The baby was delivered to Marlene Bisnath, 30, of Ramlal Street in Penal, who has five other children. Bisnath went into labour around 1.25 am yesterday. She called out to her cousin-in-law Jillian Garcia, who lives in the same house. However, Bisnath told Newsday when the water bag broke, “I realised I would not make it to the hospital in San Fernando.” A neighbour took Bisnath in her car and drove directly to the Penal Police Station, about a quarter of a mile away. “When I got to the station, the officers were very kind to me,” Bisnath said. But the labour pains became stronger and according to Bisnath, “I felt the baby coming. I realised that it was time for the baby to come and I could not wait to go the hospital.” Officers on duty — Cpl Ricky Lochan, WPC Natasha Seales, PCs Bernard Thomas, Salick Jagroop and Ryan Ali, quickly placed Bisnath on a mattress in a room in the station. PC Jagroop had only minutes before put water to boil to make coffee.

PC Thomas telephoned the San Fernando General Hospital and told nurses there of the situation. He sought guidance as to what to do, especially on how to cut the umbilical cord. Thomas said he took instructions over the phone and conveyed to PC Ali, who, with Seales, Lochan and Jagroop, delivered the baby. Bisnath thanked the policemen: “I want to thank them a whole lot, especially PC Ali. He has surely been good to me.” Thomas said when the baby emerged screaming, they all felt a bit dizzy. According to Jagroop yesterday, “We see this sort of thing happen from time to time. We the officers, who people trust and turn to for assistance are left as nervous wrecks wondering what to do in a situation like this.” Jagroop said the incident had reinforced their belief that police officers should have some basic training in midwifery. The baby was named Jaceline.