UWP Stages ‘Orange Protest’ Over Healthcare

On Wednesday, members of the United Workers Party (UWP) staged what they call a peaceful demonstration outside the Owen King EU (OKEU) Hospital in a continuing bid to highlight concerns over the state of healthcare and government accountability.  Deputy Party Leader Guy Joseph says he is calling attention to issues that are negatively impacting the nation. “It’s just what we call a peaceful demonstration of our concerns about key sectors that have been impacted in a very negative way on the country,” Joseph told St. Lucia Times.  The former Castries South East MP focused heavily on the state of healthcare, referencing the recent letter from the Medical and Dental Association that described conditions as the “worst they have ever been.”  “Patients are being asked to bring basic items like thread for surgery. The hospital is running out of essentials like water and gloves. It’s a total breakdown,” Joseph asserted. He highlighted the strain on OKEU Hospital due to the closure or limited operations of other health facilities, including the Castries and Entrepot Health Centres.  “OKEU has become the main health center for the Castries basin, and that is adding strain on the medical practitioners,” the former Economic Development Minister stated....