EWMSC is a disgrace

THE EDITOR: Like many Trinidadians I am beginning to be convinced that this 20-20 first world “vision” stuff is but another excuse to try and fool our gullible citizenry. Last week I had the “pleasure” of visiting the nation’s premier public health facility, The Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. What was once a gleaming edifice (no matter how much it cost — and who got paid) is now a sorry disgrace: doors not working, roofs leaking, elevators either non-functionary or ignorantly vandalised, floors breaking up and high level corridors replete with signs saying “keep away from the railings.” Surely, instead of puffing out our political chests and boasting about the construction of “tsunami shelters” and other grandiose, money wasting projects, it would be much better to take some of this soon to be wasted money and invest it in keeping the EWMSC properly maintained so that we can all be proud of having something which can really be called “world class?”

Until our political directorates realise that properly maintained facilities are a worthwhile investment for the nation’s future and in turn demonstrating their commitment to realising this 20-20 thingy, Trinidad and Tobago is well on the road to being the laughing stock of those educated throngs who are beating a path to our doorway. Minister Rahael appears to be one of the very few in the current political spectrum who understands that politicians are servants of the electorate (not their lords and masters) and who has a genuine wish to do “his bit” properly. Please give him the money to put EWMSC back together — plus the extra necessary every year to keep it in 20-20 order; then, at lest, we may have one which can be called world class.

WILLIAM G WATSON
St Ann’s