Healthcare workers continue anti-violence protest following motorist's assault of nurse

 

The island-wide protest by healthcare workers against the assault of their colleague by a motorist resumed Wednesday.

 

Placard-bearing staff at Victoria Jubilee Hospital, supported by members of the neighbouring Kingston Public Hospital, reiterated the message that violence against women and children will not be treated casually.

 

Director of Nursing Services at VJH, Candice Thompson, said it is critical that a united front is presented at a time when a grave injustice was committed.

 

"We stand in solidarity with our nurses across Jamaica, condemning violence, abuse against women and children, and more so against nurses. Today we stand, showing that with unity we can do great things. So we come then, we bind up, and this morning we are praying and serving in the light of God," she declared.

 

Senior Medical Officer at Kingston Public Hospital, Dr. Garth McDonald, also condemned the violence.

 

"We, the doctors of Victoria Jubilee Hospital and Kingston Public Hospital, stand in full solidarity with our nurses, with our women and our children, for us to end the violence. Also violence, men against men is not right. So we stand in solidarity against all violence in Jamaica and across the world," he said. 

 

Robert Bell, the St. Andrew businessman who was captured on video assaulting the nurse last Tuesday, was denied bail when he appeared before the Gun Court Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning.

 

Healthcare workers across the island protested against the violent incident on Monday.