St. Maarten Private Eye

Naturally I have good communication with most of the regular writers here and we talk about stories sometimes before they get written, please be assured that that the above post by Dr Voodoo was not aimed at starting a witch hunt or campaign against Geno. There are bigger issues here.

From what you say above, I would like to point out that driving while tired is also irresponsible and reckless, as much as being drunk. But it's not something that is easy to prove and of course, having an accident does wake you up somewhat I am sure. We could hope that maybe the brakes are being checked, however if our police don't have breathalizers, do we really have faith that they can do that proffessionally?

Not having breathalizers is an outragous scandle, they cost a few dollars to use and as Dr. Voodoo pointed out, not having them means that drunk drivers can get away with killing someone and pay no consequence, it has happened in the past. Residents of St Maarten really need to ask themselves if they are happy with that situation.

Then you have the ambulance, the only one on duty on an island of 50,000 people, which was apparently delayed because it had another trip to make at the time. Did the delay contribute to Martin's death? Did he bleed to death on the roadside while waiting? Again, readers really have to ask themselves if they are happy with this situation.

That too is another outragous scandle, one which the authorites will make excuses about but for which they bare a great deal of responsiblility. Sarah's condolences to the victim's family and friends is hollow and shallow, just like the govenment's aid to the victims of the Cay Bay fire. They help to create and are partially responsible for the situation and then try to deflect and duck that responsibility.

The article which was in the paper yesterday and which will probably get filed this weekend and added here, mentions that a new one has been ordered and may be here in a few weeks. I think the message here is that if you or a family member or friend are in need of one, don't wait, find another way to the hospital.

I can picture your mention of Geno imploring the people there to take the man to the hospital and I can see them all declining, some worried about interfering with the accident scene and no doubt some shamelessly worried about blood in their car. Most of us reading here will remember the accident involving the only son of an Indian merchant who a few years ago ran off the road at the end of the runway and drowned. The people who dove in to try to save him were not the first on the scene, there were people standing around watching the car sink. Again, the authorities were largely to blame, for having a very dangerous sharp curve from a long straight road, poorly marked with no reflective signs or road bumps, a scene of many accidents before.

But the attitude displayed by many people here in response to accidents is quite shocking and sometimes disgustingly voyeuristic. There are people who will just stand by and watch someone die, offering no help, I do not understand why, i ahve a few ideas, but this is really a question for a social study session.

We also have the issue of the hospital apparently refusing life saving treatment and care until an insurance card was produced, this delay also prossibly added to Martin's death. Crushed or broken, either injury is not necessarily life threatening if medical care is received, but the gapping wound bleeding profusely probably was.

We would like to hear from anyone at the scene of the accident, at the hospital or who may have more information to add to, or correct, what we know already. Dr. Scot is greatly mistaken if he thinks he doesn't have to answer questions, If he feels that way then he should find himself a press secretary to do it instead. If blood loss is a major contributor to his death then it will add greater importance to the questions that the authorites and SMMC are facing now. Those questions are:

Why does the island only have one ambulance and did this situation contribute to Martin's death? What happens if it breaks down. How many ambulances are needed for the island and what are their plans to obtain them, other than hoping and dreaming.

Was the urgent treatment required by Martin Paredes withheld because of hospital insurance policies and if so, how long was this delay. Do these policies apply to everyone, what if it's a tourist, what if it's a known or recognisable local, would they need their card too before you gave treatment to save their life?

We await the autopsy report. In the meantime, if anyone wants to make a donation to purchase some breathlizer kits, then we will purchase them and make sure they get to Mr Taco Stein. If I had the money I would buy a bunch of them and embarrass the hell out of them all. Sometimes it's the only way to get the point across.

Flipper