Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
R. Rose
August 18, 2017

Health concerns locally; racism rears head in USA

So much has been happening lately, both at home and abroad, that suitable comment would fill more than all the columns of this or any respectable newspaper.But, in the spirit of the saying, “charity begins at home,” let me begin with local developments.

The strong Garifuna delegation, which visited this month, has concluded a successful visit and returned to their places of abode. This annual pilgrimage is a most significant one, both in strengthening the bonds between our people here at home and their descendants in the diaspora, as well as in enriching our understanding of our history and culture. It is a fitting initiative which serves to further remind us of the significance of August, the month of Emancipation and the birth of the prophet Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

However, in the midst of our celebrations and commemorations, our people face challenges in relation to the health service. Many of the concerns focus on the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), our country’s main hospital. There have been copious complaints in the media about problems at the MCMH and calls for protest action, leading up to a picket by some well-known protesters outside the MCMH this week.

Sadly, if we are not careful, the matter could degenerate into a narrow political one, obscuring the more fundamental nature of the situation. On the one hand there are those opposed to the Government, spearheading the calls for public action, calling the situation a very serious crisis. On the other, there is the Government, taking defensive positions in the face of these attacks.

The state of the health services is a concern for us all and any government, no matter how good its record, must be cognizant that any deficiencies, or perceived deficiencies, will be a cause for public concern. While it is true that this Government has done a lot to improve health service delivery, it cannot be denied that many challenges remain, highlighted by the problems at the MCMH. Whether these are exaggerated or not, and whether persons are seemingly attempting to use these problems to challenge the competence of the current administration in health care delivery, is beside the point. The fact remains that there are problems and there ought to be admission of these and a stated resolve to address them. Health is too important to be allowed to become a political football.

RACISM FINDS SUCCOUR IN WHITE HOUSE

As a proud black man and long-time advocate of the rights of black people, I cannot help but add my voice to the global condemnation of US President Donald Trump in his reprehensible reaction to some of the worst and most open displays of racism in modern US history. The well-publicized events in Charlotteville, Virginia, last weekend, have shocked people all over the world and sparked outrage in all but the havens of racist thought and practice.

The USA is the self-appointed “bastion of democracy” in the world, preaching to all and sundry about the need to uphold and practise democracy and respect the rights and freedoms of all people. In furtherance of this, it has not hesitated to send its troops on military invasions far and wide, and to threaten others, as Trump has done in the case of Venezuela.

How do you square this with what the whole world witnessed last weekend in Charlotteville and in months and years precedent in US cities? Worse, how could the head of such a nation, not only initially hesitate to condemn those who openly take violent action in defence of their racist views, but later make statements which can only be interpreted as giving further licence to the worst elements of human society, the Klu Klux Klan and Nazi (Hitlerite) supporters?

Trump’s actions provide yet another clear indication of what he represents, and given that he is president of the most powerful country in the world, a neighbour of the Caribbean, we should be many times concerned. That, in the midst of all this, and the concerns about a possible nuclear confrontation with North Korea, he could decide to threaten to launch a military attack against Venezuela, further demonstrates the danger of having such a person in such a position. The Caribbean must take heed!

Renwick Rose is a community activist and social commentator.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Villa woman in  hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Front Page
    Villa woman in hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Police are said to be carrying out investigations into the stabbing of Rafia Sardine, a 20-year-old female of Villa. Reports are that Sardine, a FLOW ...
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Front Page
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    In St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), an analysis has found that the most hacked government entity was the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Polic...
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Front Page
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Leaders of Governments and institutions from countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the continent of Africa, gathered at the weekend for ...
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Front Page
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is proud of the persons in his constituency who continue to aim for higher education. Dr Gonsalves is the parliame...
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Front Page
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A van conductor, who beat his five- months pregnant ex-girlfriend after she refused to get back with him, has been remanded pending sentencing. Onez J...
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    From the Courts, News
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A Lowman’s Hill man who struck another villager in his head with a piece of steel will know his fate tomorrow, September 10, 2025. Kevin Roberts, 25, ...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok