In light of an elderly man dying while onboard the MV Lady Northcote a few days ago, residents of Mabaruma in Region One (Barima-Waini) are calling on the Administration to ensure that medical personnel be onboard for every trip the ferry makes to and from their Region.
INews was told, today, that a 68-year-old man was travelling from Georgetown to his home at Mabaruma on the MV Lady Northcote when he fell ill, and died.
This trip is said to have lasted 17 hours and because there was no medical personnel present during this long journey, the aged gentleman – identified as Yussuf Rodrigues – was unable to be treated.
As a result of this, he reportedly met his demise before the boat could dock at the first village where Rodrigues could have obtained help in his condition.
“It was too late because by the time they reached to call for a speedboat to take him to a hospital or doctor he was already dead. They need to put health people on these boats which have trips so long. I mean, if you got older people travelling then anything can happen and you are literally stuck at sea without any help presently,” said one woman. (Kristen Macklingam)
