A retreat hosted by the ‘B’ Division Community Policing Group in Berbice turned out disastrously yesterday after nearly 100 guests were hospitalized soon after lunch was served at the event.
Health officials in Berbice told Stabroek News last night that approximately 100 persons were treated at the New Amsterdam Hospital, a few doors away from the Berbice High School where the retreat was hosted.
According to officials in the Ancient County, most of the persons treated were stable, while 40 persons were admitted to the hospital; several persons sought treatment at the Fort Wellington Hospital.
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who was present at the event yesterday, told this newspaper last evening that the police were investigating the incident and several persons were questioned.
According to reports, sometime around 1 pm yesterday lunch, which consisted of fried rice and pot roast chicken, was served and shortly after, persons began to complain of abdominal pains while some began to vomit.
A state media representative told this newspaper at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he and four of his colleagues sought treatment, that he ate the food and sometime after his colleagues began to complain of pains in the stomach.
He too began to experience abdominal pains.
Two of his colleagues were hospitalized; one was being administered saline while the others declined to speak when approached for a comment, only stating that they were ok.
The media operative stated that most of females at the event were affected initially after consuming the food but as time went by, many guests complained of ‘belly pains’ while persons were being rushed to the nearby New Amsterdam Hospital. He said from all indications, the food served was cooked several hours earlier. He said officials at the event were served different food.
New Amsterdam Hospital
Persons at the New Amsterdam Hospital told Stabroek News that the hospital was filled with patients seeking treatment, many persons lay on the floors at the hospital crying out in pain. It was noted that residents in the area had already departed the venue for their homes when they began to experience pains about their bodies.
A health official in the Ancient County stated that the patients were being treated for vomiting, abdominal pains and diarrhoea.
He said that most of the patients were treated after they had left the venue for their homes.
Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran met with the affected media operatives last evening and he assured them that they will be treated carefully by staff at the hospital. The police were questioning the organizers of the event yesterday afternoon.
