Operations at the Forensic Science Centre (FSC) were stalled for seven hours yesterday as no pathologist showed up for work.
Last-minute arrangements had to be made by FSC officials to "fly-in" pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes from Tobago to conduct autopsies on about seven bodies–victims of murder and homicides–that occurred over the weekend.
The hours of wait were sometimes difficult to bear and some relatives were heard shouting for some kind of intervention and action by the relevant authorities.
One relative shouted: "Allyuh doh care about we the poor man out here at all."
"This is nonsense and disrespectful for us to go through this early on a Monday morning. Nothing allyuh can't tell we," another shouted.
Former Head of the National Operations Centre (NOC), Garvin Heerah, whose relative, Cynthia Matthews was killed on Saturday, was among relatives of crime victims, to identify the body and witness the autopsy.
He said what he witnessed yesterday was "very distressing and disappointing." He said citizens of T&T were at a breaking point and the relevant authorities had to be very careful as to how to treat with issues especially when dealing with the emotions of people.
"Respect must be given to people especially those in situations like this where their loved ones were killed. These families are already dealing with emotional stress disorder and for them to come here (FSC) and be treated like this is unfair," Heerah said.
The treatment meted out to the families yesterday, Heerah said, showed a distinct breakdown with regard to strategic planning, decision making and contingency planning.
"This affects not only the Ministry of National Security but the environment," Heerah said.
He advised that the relevant authorities "start putting together a contingency plan because everybody is talking about the increase in the crime situation, homicides and the ratings have gotten out of hand. We have to look at the key agencies in the National Security Ministry and include efficiency."
Other relatives at the FSC also complained about an awful stench coming from the mortuary. This was due to the malfunctioning of the refrigeration system, the T&T Guardian learned.
In relation to this issue, Heerah said there needed to be a meticulous review of the installation of equipment at the FSC. He said that given the fact that the environment had changed and homicides increased there needed to be additional forensic centres in Central and South Trinidad and also in Tobago.
"There is need to modernise, modify and expand to treat with the environment. It has changed incrementally and we need to make incremental changes to work in such an environment," Heerah said.