By Chantalé Fletcher
MINISTER of Health Terrence Deyalsingh openly wiped tears off his face at the decommissioning of the Point Hospital from a Covid-19 facility on Saturday.
The hospital is the first in the parallel healthcare system to revert to providing general health care to the people of the southwestern peninsula.
Located on Techier Main Road, the facility will be open to the public on Monday at 8 am for all general and secondary services. It was part of the parallel healthcare system since May last year.
The words “Glory, Glory Hallelujah,” echoed in the building as staff of the newly decommissioned Point Fortin Hospital lustily sang “Battle hymn of the republic,” at the dedication ceremony on Saturday.
Deyalsingh broke down in tears during his opening remarks.
Looking up to the heavens, he shouted, “I’m going to break all the social distancing rules because today is a day of celebration!”
Deyalsingh also commended all healthcare workers for their dedication and hard work in the continuous fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said, “You healthcare workers will go down in history as the generation that lived the words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, when he said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what can you do for your country.’ And you have done it!”
Deyalsingh added that the efforts of healthcare workers were worth more than money.
He said they have built Trinidad and Tobago and have made it great and powerful.
Deyalsingh said, “Subsequent generations will hail your achievements, that was how you built a great country by sacrifice.”
Point Fortin MP Kennedy Richards Jr also thanked hospital staff for their dedication and hard work, as well as members of the community for their patience.
In addition, all staff at the Point Fortin Hospital received tokens of appreciation.
Deyalsingh even hugged healthcare worker Kevin Shade. It was a gesture that he and officials of the ministry have discouraged since the pandemic started.
Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Deyalsingh explained why he broke protocol.
He said, “You would not know the sacrifices that all of us made, myself included. When you see a celebration of excellence, it is a release valve.
“With that release, comes that emotion. You don’t know what we went through 24-hours per day and to finally see some light on the horizon, fills you with emotional joy.”
Deyalsingh said he was overcome with joy having been the leader of this team.
He said, “I hugged Mr Shade and I have no regrets about breaking protocol.”
At a press conference on May 7, 2021, at the Diplomatic Centre, Deyalsingh told the nation that he cried.
He said he wept that morning as he observed people on Brian Lara Promenade congregating.
He had said, “I wept, I really wept when I saw what was taking place at the Brian Lara Promenade this morning at 8.30 am, a total disregard for the public health measures.
“It was sad. I pulled aside… and literally, a tear came to my eye. It did.” The minister took a deep breath.
He said, “We do not know what else to do to get the man on the street to understand how severe this is but also how important their role is in combating this virus.”
