Crisis looms

Sources revealed that Burris is being paid $2500 for each of the two autopsies.

The intervention came after families of the two deceased, a dancer who died while at dance classes and a decomposed body which was found, made stirring pleas to the Division of Health in Tobago for the autopsies to be done so that their loved ones could be laid to rest.

Newsday was told the temporary contract was expected to be presented to Mc-Donald-Burris yesterday and the autopsies could be carried out today.

A source said Mc Donald- Burris’ contract with the government ended on June 2 and legally she is not authorised to do any autopsies on behalf of the Forensic Science Centre.

There is concern, however, that when Mc Donald-Burris leaves the country in mid-July, there will be no pathologist available to work in Tobago.

Newsday was told that Dr Hughvon De Vignes has allegedly refused to do autopsies in Tobago because he has complained about, among other things, not enough mortuary attendants at the Scarborough hospital.

The other pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov has also refused to do autopsies in Tobago until he told why Des Vignes continues to refuse to work in Tobago.

Last December and in April and May this year, Alexandrov sent to Tobago by the Ministry of National Security to do autopsies.

Yesterday Alexandrov questioned the legality of Mc Donald- Burris’ temporary contract and said the Ministry of National Security needs to have this matter addressed quickly before a crisis erupts in Tobago.

He said if people die in Tobago in mid July and autopsies are required, there will be no one to do those autopsies.

“This is ridiculous,” Alexandrov said. “People whose families have died are the ones feeling the full brunt of this situation because of the failure of someone to fix the problem”. He said he agreed on three occasions to carry out the autopsies because he felt for the families of the dead.