Security at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corpora-tion were berated yesterday by public-spirited citizens over their treatment of senior citizen Rohan Persaud who was seeking refuge from the streets to rest his weary feet.
When Stabroek News entered the compound, a group of women could be seen defending Persaud from the onslaught of verbal and physical abuse being meted out by GPHC security guards.
As soon as the citizens began chanting that they would be sending footage of the abuse to various news agencies, the guards retreated.
Persaud was led to the benches inside the compound where he was allowed to sit with citizens who told Stabroek News that should they leave the guards were more than likely to remove Persaud from the compound.
One lady stated that Persaud is known as a regular at the hospital and he is simply looking for a safe place at night. She said that he is an old man who is very sickly and in need of care. As a result, they said it was outrageous that the public hospital’s security would try and deny him entry.
Another woman could be heard speaking firmly in the direction of the guards that if anything should happen to Persaud on the road it was the GPHC where he would be taken to for treatment, questioning why they were so willing to put a vulnerable person on the streets at night.
A Public Safety Officer was subsequently called on the scene and went to speak with the GPHC security.
He told Persaud to relax and noted that he needed to rest because of the swelling in his feet.
Public Safety Officers come under the Health Ministry.
