Calls have been made for there to be an immediate investigation into a recording of what appears to be a medical practitioner engaging in gross racial bias.

The audio, which was largely spread online, has led many to question the integrity of the health care system. 

The man on the recording, who is believed to be a doctor, can be heard giving instructions to an employee to “only hire East Indian nurses” while using derogatory language to describe Afro-Trinbagonians.

“A lot of patients racial so we prefer an Indian nurse, a lot of people…don’t want black nurses dealing with them…just tell all them applicants send a photo ID. Me ent racial but everybody doing it is only Creole…no Indian…only Creole does do them thing. They want to kill and beat up people and rob people business and things…and bawling black lives matter. They does get on like f***ing monkey,” the voice was heard saying.

The audio recording has since been condemned by the Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association, which described the incident as “unfortunate”. 

“As a profession, we are driven by the code of our oath and bound by the duty entrusted to us
by the patients that we serve. As such, we urge all healthcare providers to continue providing
the expected standard of care to all patients regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, orientation
and any other basis. We also encourage due respect for colleagues, staff members and citizens,” a statement from the Association read on Thursday. 

It added: “We endorse any relevant investigations that are required to resolve this matter
expediently.”

Also calling for an investigation is the Women’s Arm of the People’s National Movement.

“Unfortunately, this misuse of authority is too common in the workplace and if this is left unaddressed, it will become a cancer in the cultural fabric of our work environment,” the league said.