Barbarism now at all-time low

Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

MAJ president wants more action and less lip service

WESTERN BUREAU:

DR AGGREY Irons, president of the Medical Association of Jamaica, is worried about the barbarism now on display in Jamaica and wants to see urgent action and less lip service in the bid to reduce crime and violence.

"The violence and barbarism in Jamaica reached a new low this weekend," said Dr Irons, in reference to the murder of Dr Barry Dixon in Montego Bay and the killing of a pregnant woman in St Thomas.

"While agents of the state in eastern Jamaica were busy shooting a pregnant woman to death, bandits in western Jamaica were busy assassinating a member of the medical profession, someone who could have brought them into the world, and someone they might well owe their lives to."

gruesome murder

Dr Dixon, a renowned Montego Bay-based obstetric gynaecologist and humanitarian, was grue-somely murdered at his Spring Garden home in the early hours of Saturday morning by gunmen, who gained access to his house by breaking down a door to the building.

"We are not just worried that the violence is affecting doctors, but that this level of barbarism has reached a new high," said Dr Irons.

He added: "We at the MAJ are willing to solve the epidemic that is not only destroying the economy, but the people, we have the plans to solve this epidemic, but have not been given an opportunity to do so. We are calling on the powers that be in this country to consult with us, so the matter can be dealt with."

Three days after his death, friends and colleague of Dr Dixon are still struggling to come to grips with his gruesome murder, which has sent shock waves across western Jamaica, especially Montego Bay, where he was a household name.

Dr Dixon, who was hailed by colleagues as a compassionate physician who helped to shape the lives of several doctors and numerous patients, served as a senior medical officer at the Cornwall Regional Hospital for 20 years. He subsequently operated the Barnett Clinic in Montego Bay.

"When I came to the hospital (Cornwall Regional Hospital) as an intern, Dr Dixon was the one who trained me," said Dr Delroy Fray. "I was so impressed with how caring and compassionate he was with his patients. Most of what I know today was because of him."

Fray, who is now the senior medical officer at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, said he cannot fathom how anyone could have hurt such a remarkable individual.

sheena.gayle@gleanerjm.com