A 20 foot container will be set up at the Scarborough Hospital over the weekend, to store dead bodies. 

This was revealed by Chief Secretary Farley Augustine, who lamented that this action has become necessary as the morgue is currently full.

The container, he said, should hold some 45 bodies.

Mr. Augustine was speaking at this morning’s THA media conference. 

“The morgue is full. We still trying to squeeze up dead in one tray,” Augustine said. 

“If yuh fat, then you alone have to hold in a tray. Excuse me and allow me to be crass now- because you need to get the reality of the situation. We have more dead than we can hold… Which means that far too many of our people are dying from this disease,” he continued. 

Mr. Augustine added that the worsening Covid-19 situation on the island was also impacting other healthcare services. 

“Our diabetics, our hypertensive patients, those with heart related diseases, cancers… all are suffering from simple procedures. We have surgeries on hold,” he said. 

Augustine: “Vaccine Mandate A Recipe for Disaster”

Chief Secretary Farley Augustine believes government’s vaccine mandate policy could be a “recipe for disaster” specifically as it relates to the healthcare system in Tobago.

With 50% of workers at the Tobago Regional Health Authority being vaccinated, Augustine questioned how efficient it would be to have hospitals operating at half of its capacity.

He predicted this could lead to more deaths than is presently being recorded.

The Chief Secretary believes there should have been a consultation with all stakeholders before such an announcement was made by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley last weekend.