Spencer condemns hospital robbery

HEALTH MINISTER Rudyard Spencer has condemned yesterday's attack by gunmen on the staff of the Spanish Town Hospital in St Catherine.

In a release, Spencer declared: "I strongly condemn this callous act."

He said there was a pattern emerging that was disturbing. "We wish those criminal minded would allow suffering people to access medical attention and our staff to do their work without fear of incidents such as this," Spencer stated.

The health minister said he hoped the perpetrators would be swiftly brought to justice, and urged members of the commu-nity to assist the police in their investigations.

According to Spencer, "Our staff is traumatised by what I can only describe as becoming a regular occurrence, especially at this particular facility."

He said counselling was being offered to staff members.