All Barbadians can be proud of the commendable work performed by the staff of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to avert any loss of life during the recent power outage when the standby generator failed to function. It was truly a test of their faith and commitment to their profession. The entire scene resembled an assimilation drill that would have otherwise been carried out as part of a preparedness plan to sensitize employees of their role during an emergency situation. Such drills are carried out with a set of contingencies in place to handle any emergencies that may arise. However, in this case it was not an assimilation drill to assess the readiness of the Hospital’s back up plan but a calculated and insensitive act of sabotage.

The headlines on the front page of the Nation Newspaper for Sunday, August 26, 2007, “Sabotage 45 minutes QEH power outage puts patients’ lives at risk” could not have been comforting news for those of us with family members in the hospital. That the breaker, which controls the circuit to the battery to recharge the generator, had been found turned off was the worse of news. Who switched off that breaker? Why would anyone want to jeopardize the lives of so many patients? Who would have benefited from the calamity that could have arisen from this cruel and unconscionable act, aimed to show mismanagement of the Hospital?

The QEH is our prime health care institution and has been attracting positive reviews from international agencies. Foreign dignitaries who have used the services of our Hospital, including the son of the former Prime Minister of Great Britain have all spoken highly of its service. The employees at the Hospital take their jobs far too seriously to want to put its reputation on the line. But we await the outcome of the investigation, which we hope would shed some light on the dastardly act and we expect the full weight of the law on the perpetrator. No patient of the QEH should ever in the future have to fear for their life. There can be no gain political or otherwise from acts of this kind.

We have recently observed a number of incidences that have undoubtedly revealed there is a plan amidst to create a welter of discontent in our country. The plan is design to distract this BLP government from its development agenda by keeping it in a continuing state of reaction. This observation brings into sharp focus a letter addressed to the President of the DLP Mr. David Thompson by Nigel “Olusegun” Harper former President of the NUPW. Among other things the letter recommends that:

"What is the broad picture for taking back our Government? What Projects do we contemplate? What are we planning to do on a daily basis, weekly basis or monthly basis to achieve the victory?

I wish to lay out in capsule the following highlights as I see them.

There must be a Revolt Rebellion among Workers, Youth, Children, Very Small Businesses, Consumers, Taximen, Minibus Operators, Sportsmen, Artist and even the spiritually conscious. The DLP must create a welter of discontent. Keeping the B.L.P in a continuing reactive state".

Is it possible that the contents of this letter have been endorsed by the DLP? Could this be the plan adopted by Thompson to whom the letter was sent? But worse of all could this be the explanation for the sabotage at the QEH and the other incidences at work in our country?

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