Vials of blood in East Dry River

Hutton Frederick, an Oasis client, told Newsday he was surprised to find the vials of human blood floating in the water, and several of the vials had been broken on the concrete basin.

When Newsday visited the scene, vials of blood were visible in the water and stuck in sand pockets in the river. The vials contained blood, and there were names of persons and dates printed on the sides of the vials.

"The vials of blood looked as if they were washed down with the rains, and I am terribly upset. We have no where else to go and sometimes we sleep here," Frederick said.

Jean King, assistant manager at the Oasis Drop-in Centre, said she could not believe such "dangerous things" could be left in the river. "We deal with the homeless and drug addicts. Some of the socially displaced individuals have to live under that river," she said.

King said she was upset with the situation because the blood could be contaminated.

"These people here are already homeless. Are they trying to kill them faster?" she asked.

Officials at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital were unavailable for comment.