Opposition Calls For Dr. Tufton To Be Removed Amid Dengue Crisis

“The Minister of Health and Wellness clearly cannot manage the Portfolio.”

This statement comes from the People’s National Party’s Spokesperson on Health, Dr. Moaris Guy, while speaking at a press conference earlier today (Tuesday, December 3, 2019) at the party’s head quarters on Old Hope Road in Kingston.

One of most pressing issues highlighted is the increasing reports of suspected Dengue cases across the island.

Dr. Guy says his predecessor had warned several times that there was a need for urgent management, including public education and vector control.

The opposition is concerned about the numbers the Minister of Health reported in Parliament.

On October 8, 2019, Dr. Tufton said “for the period January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019 there were 135 suspected and confirmed dengue related deaths; 47 in 2018 and 88 in 2019. 10 of these occurred in September.

Yet, it was reported by the minister, as at November 7, there were 61 suspected/confirmed deaths, of which 17 were in 2018 and 44 in 2019.

Dr. Guy says if there was an error, it should have not taken the Minister over five weeks to correct it. He says the Minister is not being truthful.

He says the performance of Dr. Tufton is an indication that he is “not up for the job.”

“He is a terrible Minister and his occupancy of the Ministry forebodes a worsening situation and soon a mortality increase. The Prime Minister should act now to remove him and give someone the opportunity to rescue Jamaica from imminent disaster” he adds.