I love my country and it’s my desire to always contribute to its management and development in a positive way. In today’s article, I have decided to share a frustrating experience and a disappointing observation with you. I do hope that the relevant authorities who can address these concerns of mine will seek to do so where possible.
On Friday evening, my wife and I weren’t well, so we decided to go see a doctor at the Sandy Crest Medical Centre on the West Coast. To our surprise and benefit, many people weren’t there and as a result we didn’t have to wait long to be seen.
Just about 9:30 p.m., we went in to see the doctor and at that time the pharmacy in the centre was still open. We came out from the doctor between 11:20 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. and proceeded to the receptionist to honour our payments in hopes of proceeding afterwards to the pharmacy to fill our prescriptions. To our surprise, the pharmacy was closed and I could not understand why.
We left Sandy Crest and immediately I called my mother to find out what other pharmacy I could go to in the area since we really needed the medication. She told me I could try to get to the pharmacy by FMH or Elcourt Pharmacy down Maxwell before midnight.
Since I live in St James and was feeling sick and very sleepy, I knew it would be too risky to try to drive all the way to St Michael or Christ Church in 12 minutes, so we decided to go home and try to ride out the night; which was just horrible.
On Saturday morning, I proceeded to Knights Pharmacy in SuperCentre Warrens to get the prescriptions filled. For whatever reasons, it took one whole hour after dropping off the prescription to get the medication. Mind you, my wife was home very ill and awaiting this medication. The cashier was very nice and accommodating and made my wait a little less frustrating.
I was so angry, upset, frustrated, miserable, disgruntled – and I can keep going on and on – that we have 24-hour medical facilities in Barbados but no 24-hour pharmacies. That is like having 24-hour supermarkets but no cashiers or 24-hour hour restaurants but no cooks. In my opinion, pure madness!
We need to do better than this. What if it was a child or an infant who was in need of urgent medication? Also, we need to adequately provide for the needs of those citizens who live in far areas like St John, St Joseph, St Andrew and some parts of St Lucy and St Philip. We need 24-hour medical facilities in those areas too.
I continue to be amazed that despite it being illegal, there is an increasing number of “tradesmen and women” selling their goods on the “layway” of the highway. Two years ago, there was a discussion on The People’s Business about the amendments to the Road Safety Act where it was communicated this was an illegal act.
I believe that we should all be given the opportunity to make an honest dollar but we cannot encourage people to continuously break the law. I believe that it would be unfair and downright unprincipled for a citizen to be prosecuted for any traffic violation when this illegal act is allowed to continue.
It has now escalated to people selling eggs out of a box truck and panel vans with a living chicken in a cage for display and advertising on the highway. Just recently there was an accident right next to the ‘egg man’ by Hothersal Turning. Imagine, traffic was unable to easily manoeuvre around the accident because the wrecker had to park on the highway since the ‘egg man’ was still selling. To my surprise, the police who responded parked behind the “egg man’s” box truck to take statements and assess the situation. In my opinion: pure madness!
Where possible, the relevant authorities should clear and create spaces off the highway where these vendors can continue to sell and potential customers can divert off the highway, make their purchases and continue on their way.
• Corey Worrell is a former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.