“BODOE in the building, hiding, hiding, hiding from workers…Bodoe where art thou?”
That’s the chant that rang through the streets of Port of Spain yesterday as hundreds of nurses and midwives, clad in blue, protested over wages, staffing shortages and working conditions. They called on Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe to break his silence and address their concerns.
Moving in a coordinated procession from the Port of Spain General Hospital to the Ministry of Health’s head office at Queen’s Park East, the demonstrators, many shielding themselves from the midday sun with umbrellas—filled the capital with songs, shouts and placards demanding a 10% wage increase and urgent intervention to address what they described as a worsening strain on the public health system.
The protest, approved by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) despite the ongoing state of emergency (SoE), began shortly after 11 a.m. and with a heavy police presence. Officers monitored the march, redirected traffic and ensured participants adhered to their approved route as the “sea of blue” moved through the city. Motorist slowed to observe scores of workers making their way through various points.
At the centre of the demonstration was a call for the resignation of North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) chairman Dr Tim Gopeesingh, alongside mounting criticism of the Health Minister for his silence. Protesters repeatedly accused the minister of failing to engage frontline workers, with chants intensifying outside the ministry’s headquarters.
Leading the march was president of the Trinidad and Tobago National Nursing Association (TTNNA), Idi Stuart, flanked by other union leaders. Addressing the crowd along the route and later at Independence Square, Stuart underscored concerns about chronic understaffing and the pressure it has placed on existing personnel.
Placards carried by protesters bore messages including “Nursing is a profession, not charity work”, “Permanent nurses now”, “Enough is Enough”, the Struggle is Rough”, and “Does the minister of health care about RHAs worker”, reflecting their frustration over employment status and compensation.
The demonstration came a day after Gopeesingh announced the hiring of 61 additional nurses, stating that the new recruits would join nearly 1,000 registered nurses across facilities including the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Arima Hospital, Mt Hope Women’s Hospital, Caura Hospital and several health centres.
However, Stuart argued the measure falls short of addressing systemic gaps.
Speaking after the march yesterday, Stuart said several facilities have been “tremendously affected” by the demonstration and criticised statements made in Parliament by the health minister, who reportedly dismissed claims of a crisis within the sector. He told the Express sister station i95 that nurses were “infuriated” by the statements. He insisted that the situation is a crisis, rejecting the minister’s comments and arguing that members of the public would not share the minister’s view.
“I don’t think it was the perception of those persons who were turned away at health centres today. I don’t believe it was the perception of persons who were unable to receive surgery today. I don’t believe those hundreds of persons still in accident and emergency departments across Trinidad and Tobago see it from his perspective,” he said.
Parliament started 1.30 p.m. yesterday and despite not having approval for protesting in front the Red House, Stuart suggested that a few nurses could walk by.
The protest concluded outside the Treasury Building and the Eric Williams Financial Complex, where demonstrators continued chanting, “We want we money, right now,” signalling that industrial pressure is unlikely to ease without tangible action from authorities.
Meanwhile, despite the demonstration, Bodoe maintained that there is no health crisis in Trinidad and Tobago.
His statement came during yesterday’s sitting of Parliament, where Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles noted planned protest action by nurses and asked what steps the Government was taking to address what she said was a health crisis now in its third week.
Bodoe responded, “Mr Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Mr Speaker, I wish to assure the population that there is no health crisis in our country at this time. Mr Speaker, under this government, the healthcare system continues to provide services to thousands of patients on a daily basis.”
He continued, “Finally, Mr Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our healthcare workers at the RHAs (Regional Health Authorities) and the Ministry of Health who continue to work diligently on a daily basis to serve the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.”
The Express reached out to Gopeesingh for a response to Stuart’s claim of disruption in operations of facilities under the ambit of the NCRHA, as a result of yesterday’s demonstration. However, he did not respond to calls or a WhatsApp message.
—with reporting
by Anna Ramdass
