THE SUNDAY SUN carried an article about cancer patient Nigel Marshall, a former teacher of the ill-fated Louis Lynch Secondary School, who was careful not to blame his condition on the toxic substance allegedly present at the school and surrounding area.
Marshall said he wanted the Ministry of Education to publish the findings of the enquiry into the now abandoned school as he is now consumed by unanswered questions.
We agree that more than enough time has passed with respect to making these findings public as it seems that an inordinately high number of people associated with the school have been afflicted with some form of disease or another.
It is not unusual for governments to treat to these matters in this fashion as the public can do very little in situations like these. The best that one can hope for is a leaking of the information to the much maligned Press for publication.
It is not so much a question of apportioning liability or blame but is the public right to know about matters that affect them and for which they have to foot the bill. This situation would not have obtained if Government had passed long-mooted legislation on freedom of information.
Only recently in Britain, official figures obtained under their Freedom Of Information Act highlighted the full extent of neglect of home care residents. The report by The Telegraph stated that more than 1 000 such residents have died of thirst, or while suffering severe dehydration, over the past decade despite under the supervision of trained staff.
This shows the utility of such an act. Campaigners said the disclosures raised serious concerns about the way vulnerable elderly people were treated and why the Conservative government had failed to decrease the numbers dying of thirst after more than three years in office.
Whilst we are not going to belabour the point, it is worth noting that in recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of cancer cases in Barbados. We are not sure if any major study on the cause has been undertaken but the time is ripe for such a study.
What seems certain is that much in the fight against cancer depends on a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet, which should include a variety of fresh foods, including those that are low in saturated fat and high in types of “good” fats.
These include olive oil, avocados and seeds that are rich in monounsaturated fats as well as fish and walnuts that have a high content of Omega-3 fatty acids. Regular exercise should also form part of the routine.
In addition, stopping smoking and reducing alcohol intake are always desirable. This does not mean abstaining from normal social pleasures, such as the occasional drink with friends, but it is advisable not to drink in excess and to get help with giving up smoking.