Health department worker stoned

A worker attached to the St Catherine Health Department had to seek medical attention after being attacked and pelted with stones during a work exercise in Waterford, St Catherine.

This was revealed last Thursday at the monthly general council meeting of the St Catherine Municipal Corporation.

The incident, which occurred on June 7, has caused great concern for senior personnel from the department.

According to chief public health inspector for St Catherine Grayson Hutchinson, the incident has disrupted vector control activities in the Portmore community, where mosquito infestation remains a problem.

"While we cannot allow the actions of misguided persons to cause others with good intentions to suffer, we are very concerned as it is not the first time that an incident of this nature has occurred. We were just in the area known as 'Gaza' working when one of the operators went into a lane, and he was pelted with a stone while doing his work. even when he stopped and was moving away, he was again hit with stones. This is really sad, so we are asking for support," Hutchinson said.

Meanwhile, chairman of the St Catherine Municipal Corporation, Norman Scott, says he hopes the matter had been reported to the police and that a proper investigation, with a view of apprehending who was involved, would be carried out.

He also implored his colleagues to rein in disruptive forces within their divisions so that health department staff can carry out their work uninhibited.

When THE STAR checked with the police, it was confirmed that the matter had been reported and is under investigation.