‘I am marching with them’
Sav nurses, residents take to the streets
SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — A small but high-energy group of nurses and other staff from Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital (SPGH) took to the streets of the town Monday to voice their opposition to violent acts against nurses, women, children and any other Jamaican being victimised.
They held aloft professionally made signs that read, “Violence is preventable. Stop now”, as well as others with messages such as “Enough is enough” scribbled on cardboard. Together, they raised their voices in the chant, “End violence”. Some protestors held umbrellas aloft to ward off the sun’s rays while cops on motorcycles provided an escort as they marched from the hospital to Hendon Square. There they made their case for about 45 minutes.
“Today we have taken the stance to stand in solidarity with not just our nurse from the University Hospital of the West Indies who was so viciously assaulted on Tuesday by this gentleman, but we stand also with all women and children who have been victims of abuse,” said SPGH ward manager, nurse Stacey-Ann Scott, who led the march.
“We want to let you know that we stand with you, we support you, we hear you. Reach out to us, we are a community. We welcome you, we have resources that can help you. Do not be silent,” she urged, her voice full of raw emotion.
The group of hospital staff was joined by a few passers-by as the march continued down Beckford Street, onto Lewis Street and back to the SPGH at Barracks Road.
“I had to join them, and anywhere they marching to I am marching with them,” Westmoreland resident Patricia Haye told the Jamaica Observer. “My son is a doctor; it could have been him. It was a disgusting act!”
She was referencing the May 13 hard-to-watch attack on a nurse that was captured by a cellphone camera. The video, which went viral on social media Thursday night, shows a man brutally assaulting the nurse — including stomping on her head. The attack has been described as an incident of road rage. Last week, as public outrage intensified, the police charged 65-year-old St Andrew businessman Robert Bell with multiple charges in connection with the incident.
According to the police, the nurse was on her way to work when her vehicle was impeded by one driven by Bell. A dispute ensued between the two individuals, during which the nurse was physically assaulted.
As she marched, one woman said vehemently, “Enough is enough, no more silence! Stop the violence against women now! Women are nation-builders, women are essential services… You cannot abuse a nurse. Take your foot off our head now!”
