Eustace pledges support for injured Sandy Bay woman

President of the New Democratic Party (NDP) Arnhim Eustace has pledged his commitment to making life better for Sandy Bay resident Shirley Baptiste, whose leg had to be amputated following a vehiclular accident on Saturday at Gordon Yard.

According to reports, sometime between 5 and 6 p.m., a truck carrying passengers from North Windward to a rally of the New Democratic Party (NDP) at Chateaubelair overturned{{more}}resulting in most passengers sustaining minor injuries.

Shirley and fellow villager Ruby Baptiste were the most seriously injured, however, and up to press time were warded at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH).

Speaking on the New Times programme on Nice Radio yesterday, Eustace said he visited both patients at the hospital on Sunday.

He noted that Ruby was complaining of head pains at the time.

“But the other lady called Shirley Baptiste, she was severely injured and in fact, her leg has been amputated. Her leg was cut off,” Eustace said.

The party leader said he spent approximately an hour with Shirley, discussing how she will be able to go forward following the incident.

Baptiste, 32, is the mother of three, with the youngest child being three years old.

“She has her whole life ahead of her and now she will not be able to use her leg. It is really distressing to sit down and recognize the extent of the difficulties that she will face in the future, being such a young woman,” Eustace said.

He said they spoke about ways they could work together to make life as comfortable as possible for Baptiste and her children.

“We spoke for a long time. She was in quite a bit of pain, but she’s okay otherwise. But the fact remains, the psychological effect of suddenly losing a leg is something that is not easy to deal with, but that is the reality she faces this morning, as she lies in her bed at the hospital.

“And all of our sympathies, the sympathies of our party go out to her and her family at this time,” Eustace stated.

The Opposition Leader said Shirley related to him that she was seated at the back of truck when it overturned.

“It seems like one side of the truck, when it overturned, ended up resting on her leg and that is what caused the damage. It seems that there was no possibility of saving her leg.

“It is really a terrible accident and that she will face such a permanent loss. Ms Baptiste, we really are sorry about what happened.

“But on the other hand, a number of persons are treating the driver as somewhat of a hero, because he was able to prevent the vehicle from going over into an area which was much steeper and which mostly would have involved the death of some of the passengers on that truck,” Eustace said.

However, the leader of the NDP said he was “alarmed” to hear that there were persons who were rejoicing at the passengers’ misfortune.

“I don’t know what our society has come to. Even if you are on different political sides, for a vehicle to overturn, cause damage and people find that’s something to be laughed about really tells me something about our society.

“We have hit a low. All of us are Vincentians. We may belong to different organizations, but we are Vincentians and in a case like this, why should anybody be happy to hear what has happened. A human life is almost lost. There is injury. Permanent injury, but there are those who are rejoicing. It is really unbelievable to hear some of the stories that I’ve been hearing about people who are amused and happy about this…,” Eustace said, reiterating his party’s commitment to assisting Shirley.

Up to press time, the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force had not released a report on the accident.