St. Maarten Private Eye

St Maarten News Network

Philipsburg:- Close to one month after the death of the garbage collector who was killed while working on Union Road Cole-Bay is still in the air.
The garbage collector Martin Parades 55- of the Dominican Republic died at the St. Maarten Medical Center the same day of the accident.
Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein told SMN News that he is in dark as this reporter is because to date he did not receive the pathologist report of the autopsy that was conducted since March 8th.
In earlier reports Stein said that Parades death seems suspicious and for that reason the body was confiscated. The chief prosecutor also said that he had requested a full report from St. Maarten Medical Center the institution where the victim died, however, none of the reports have been submitted to this day. Parades who was working for Bunchie’s garage was living on St. Maarten alone as he has no immediate relatives living on St. Maarten.

SMN News will continue to follow the developments in the case of Parades

Geno is a human being like everyone else, mistakes happen as it happens to everyone. If Geno was driving an old car, it should be investigated if the car was in good driving condition. Geno was also irresponsible for driving at 4am tired and over worked. Whether he had alcohol in his blood system or not, he has to be responsible behind the car steering wheel.
The poor man Mr. Paredes was doing his job and did not provoke this deadly accident, Geno knows that most of the island is not lit , so no reason to look for excuses all over. On St.Maarten we have a culture of Caribbean people that prefer to look for excuses in every corner they can with an exception of looking at the truth and acknowledging the truth.
Geno is responsible for hitting the garbage truck and causing death to another human being, ofcourse this was an accident, but it is his fault. The ambulance that arrived late also has to be investigated, as this could also have caused Mr. Paredes to bleed to death.
As for the Medical Center, the Hospital needs to see that one is insured. Bunchie's trucking owner could have called before she came to tell them to go ahead with treatment and she was on her way with the card. The hospital is not receiving a huge subsidy from government to just accept everyone and treat everyone at a financial loss, otherwise they will deteriorate to a level that is a loss to all of us.
On the other hand, they do have the responsibilty to save a life and discuss money after with the employer. The police force needs to invest in breathelisers, and that is a fact. The French side police force already has them in use for a a few years. But when I look at the bunch of political candidates, not one of them is speaking about how they will upgrade the police force.
Not only in man power, but in tools as well. Not one candidate has ever broached the breatherliser subject.
So Flipper heads up with this blog, this has happened numerous times before with drunk drivers getting away with killing innocent people. This has also happened to our famous real estate agent Peyton Cromwell years ago as well, as he was drunk driving on the Union Road when he hit a small car driven by a Haitian National and his little girl as a passenger.
The little girl suffered serious injuries, Peyton was hauled off to spend one night in jail and later released, no breatherlisers, no proof for the police and for the justice system.

Let me explain all what is irresponisble:-
* Lack of Ambulance
* Lack of Sufficient Street Lights
* Roads that has more pot-holes that Lamp post
* A Hospital that Denies Treatment to A Dying Person

--- Driving under the influence
--- Labor Abuse and Abuse of Foreign labor

Being tired and exhausted is human, that is how I determine English Language.

If you can tell us who is responsible for all the irresponsiblities above then we can talk about the reasons for fatigue, stress and being over worked in a Foreign Country.

At no tiime it was said that Geno is not responsible for the accident! And he will be held accountable according to the law provides. Judging he must have been drunk and based on his writings is not legitimate either. Geno based on what I know told the full truth to the police and he accepted his fault... Its seems you dont know that Health Care should be a priority and that payment of hospitals bills has to be handled in a civil court.
The hospital is suppose to be a place that help save lifes not assist in killing them. As for the ambulane there is a shortage something that needs to be addressed.
This is a tourist destination if you are aware and each passenger that comes off each cruise ship is ensured for 1 million dollars and that is why tourist are treated because SMMC is not looking for a lawsuit when they kill a tourist. What you need to see is that Locals or foreigners who are paying share are the ones that is shafted and yes Flipper did a good thing by putting up this blog so that all the speculations that are out there will be addressed

I figured that Cruise tourists had some kind of coverage prearranged, but was unsure. But my question was not just about them, it was really about anyone that arrives at the SMMC that needs urgent life saving care and if they would get it. While I understand very well that the hospital doesn't want to run up bills, this sort of policy which appears to have denied possible life saving treatment to the victim, is not acceptable in any decent society, not at all.

Going into a new status, St. Maarten has the chance to put in place an island wide health coverage, I understand the idea is being 'discussed; by several parties and some say this is why Mr Insurance has invested in the NA. There are different versions of the Hypocratic Oath, but I think it is generally universal that doctors must not withold their knowledge and assistance when it is needed, or something along those lines.

Anyway, I think this poilcy needs to be questioned and the whole health insurance and care issue bought into the election arena, they all have hopes and wishes of making things better, but no one seems to be announcing clear and progessive ideas and long term plans or solutions.

Hopes are high for ambulance shortage solution - 16th March 2007

The other comment mentions how people look for excuses, I would add they they also are very good at accepting them too. It seems to me that demanding accountablility and responsiblity from our public officials and govt is something that most people have given up on, that's just the way tings are. That's what they want people to feel, they don't want to be questioned on competance because most of them don't have any.

But hey, that's why SXM PE exists isn't it. We live in a 'dumbed down' democracy, where people feel indifferent, nonchalant or helpless about what goes on around them. I write here and so do many others, because we want to show people that the power really lies in their hands. They have to want and demand better to get it.

Dr. Voodoo

I'm tired of excuses myself.

Dr. Voodoo

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

Flipper I would not even try to talk about the level of irresponsiblity that is showm by the DP Government, you mention the Simpsonbay Curve, I would not even go that far, Just go up Sucker garden Road and look at the beautification railings placed up there to protect cars from parking on the side walks, because its madefrom cheap tiles... Do you still have that photograph of the plank that pierced through the headlight and killed the 20-year old Jamaican... That is not forgotten and less than a week after a truck run over the railings to save a head on collision.
Of course I did not forget the incident of the Indian Merchant.. but he was drunk and plunged in the sea, we dont know if those that were on the scene were swimmers, or if they were just afraid of going into the polluted lagoon. But this Man was cleaning our mess when a deadly accident occurred and he was in everybodys hand reach... and you mentioned tampering with the accident scene! No Flipper the police was there and they too did not choose to put the man in the police car and go with him...

Flipper, your questions are all justifiable, as to what really happened. The information that was posted by "Please do not Judge" is classified information.
People now a days preach God but dont practice what they preach... When someone is inneed of help they say God Bless you. To know how long the man waited before the first set of treatment was adminstered is simply maths. He was in Cole-Bay 35 minutes before the Ambulance reach the scene, take 10 or 15 minutes to install the man in the ambulance and another 5 minutes drive to the hospital.
Then there were no trauma specialist on duty to handle the magnitude of injury the victim received. Bunchie's manager Phyllis Gumbs arrived on the scene 45 minutes after the victim reached the hospital... Then she produced the doctor card... That was when the first medication was adminstered and you know what Flipper they started by blood trasfusion... No one knows if they tested him to see his blood type...They never gave him anything to stop the bleeding while transfusing him... What you can say there is a lot unanswered questions that hopefully the pathologist report would reveal and that is if Stein make it public and and not to mention the SMMC report which you can expect to be concocked. So would the real truth come out... That is left to be seen.
What people need to know that there is not sufficient ambulance to cope with the population. like there is not enough space to cope with the amount of shit on the island and that is why we have sewage running all over. People needs to really become their brothers keepers and Breatlizers its a good idea, but you know what the island legal system does not think they need it.
Stein made it clear there is nowhere to force anyone to do a blood test if they dont want to. As per Government and what they are doing... I guess if you drive around the island and look at the posters that are placed along side the road for political propaganda you will see where the money is going... Theo and Maria is racing with their size of billboards and websites. They never thought of putting that money to purchasing an ambulance.

When you have a disaster slowly unfolding, the best course of action is to acknowledge it and confront it. Pretending it doesn't exist doesn't help because eventually it becomes too big to ignore and a much bigger problem to deal with.

I hope Mr Stein and Dr Scot realise this. And I hope business owners and residents start to realise it too, that it will dawn on them that they can't keep on pretending it's not their problem, none of their concern etc.

We rely on tourism. When it starts to become known that our sea has raw sewerage and that our waters are never tested, not even our drinking water. When it starts to become clear that convicted criminals are deported due to lack of space and that we have a very high murder and crime rate, a police force severely understaffed and incompetantly managed and only have one ambulance. Maybe they will consider going somewhere else.

I know I would.

What you see is a result of good people doing nothing.

Dr. Voodoo

Still No Post Mortem Report for Accident Victim - 19th March 2007

As of Friday the reporter from SMNN has been trying to find out about both the accident report and the hospital report and autopsy. Reportedly, several messages have been left for Taco Stein, but he has been in 'meetings' when the reporter called, he has returned none.

Dr. Voodoo

Local Reporter May Soon to Appear in Court for Parades Accident

Philipsburg: - A local journalist G.L may appear in the Court of First Instance as early as September for the accident that killed Martin Parades.

The traffic department is busy finalizing the reports, which is expected to reach the desk of Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein early next week who will then decide what exact actions he would take in the case.

Parades died at the St. Maarten Medical Center hours after he was transported to medical facility for treatment.
The accident occurred on March 5 on Union Road Cole Bay, the victim a national of the Dominican Republic and employee of Bunchie’s garage was in the process of picking up garbage around 4 am that morning. A local reporter from one of the Today Newspaper who probably fell asleep on the wheel slammed into the back of the garbage truck pinning the lower portion of Parades body to the vehicle. Earlier reports stated that the victim suffered from two broken legs and a gaping wound that was bleeding profusely.

SMN News was reliably informed that the Ambulance department opted to make a run to Oyster Pond to transfer another patient who fell ill that night leaving the garbage the collector to bleed for almost 45 minutes on the scene of the accident. SMN News also learnt that when the victim was finally taken to the St. Maarten Medical Center a dispute began as the medical institution wanted to know who would take on the financial responsibility before administering first aid treatment to the dying man who had no immediate relatives on the island.

SMN News also understands that the medical institution only administered treatment when the owner and managing director of Bunchie’s Garage showed up with his medical card.

The unfortunate circumstances surrounding Parades death prompted Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein to ask the coroner for a detail pathologist report as well as a full report from the medical institution. Those reports Stein said was submitted to the police station and they are now busy finalizing their reports which would give him a better idea as to what really happened both on the scene of the accident and the hospital.
With these reports, the Chief Prosecutor of the Windward Islands would be able to take a decision on how to proceed with the case. Most likely, the reporter an elderly man who was overworked covering the Heineken Regatta and price giving ceremony would most likely have to appear before a judge.