Power struggle: Two militant residents overpower the security guard and force open the entrance gate to the Duhaney Park Health Centre after the 'Tyrone's Watch' team was asked to leave the premises last week. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

WHAT'S NOT WORKING

The March 2005 closure of the dental services section of the Duhaney Park Health Centre in St. Andrew has been a constant source of inconvenience for the communities it served.

Residents of the Duhaney Park community, which is situated off Washington Boulevard and is in proximity to the Nelson Mandela Highway, said the much-needed dental clinic was of utmost importance to citizens of all ages, including students attending the Duhaney Park Primary School, and senior citizens.

Now, after more than one year since the clinic's closure, the residents' patience is weaning thin and they are protesting that the facility should be promptly reopened.

SYNOPSIS OF SITUATION:

The bizarre episode that unfolded when our team visited the health facility last week was just a film director short of capturing a Hollywood-type epic thriller.

We arrived at the health centre around noon. We then entered and quizzed the woman said to be in charge for some answers regarding the closure and planned reopening of the clinic. That proved as painful as pulling teeth without the use of novocaine.

The official robustly refused to state her name or give a specific reason for the clinic's closure. She demanded that all questions be directed to the Kingston and St. Andrew Health Department.

The uncooperative woman said that she "did not want to get involved in this cass cass" and warned that she did not want to be "rude" to our news team.

Refused access

Additionally, although our photographer was outside the building and his camera was on the back seat of the car, the woman denied our news team access to the dental clinic and forbade us from taking any photographs.

She subsequently summoned a security guard to get our news team off the compound.

After humbly complying and leaving the compound, curious residents, who became aware of our mission, began venting disapproval of not only our expulsion, but also at the officials for failing to justify the clinic's shutdown.

Petram, who has lived in the community for over 20 years, said the dental clinic was closed last March because pigeons and rats had started to occupy the facility. Since the closure, Petram said she and her children have had to seek dental care elsewhere, and at far more expensive rates.

Sonia, another Duhaney Park resident since the 1980s, had a similar concern.

"Since the clinic lock none a mi children dem nuh get fi clean dem teeth!" she exclaimed. "De other day is Drewsland mi affi go, unda gunshot, fi go dentist. I want dem fi open back the dental clinic over here."

Shortly after, the situation got ugly. The incensed residents who had converged on the scene took matters into their own hands and barged into the facility.

The livid citizens overpowered the security guard and demanded that the news team come in to view the state of the dental clinic on the upper floor. Our news team took advantage of the opportunity gained by the residents' militancy and quickly went upstairs to view the rundown facility.

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?

The Kingston and St. Andrew Health Department.

WHAT'S THE STATUS?

Godfrey Boyd, Kingston and St. Andrew Health Department's parish manager, said the dental section of the facility was closed primarily because of problems posed by pigeons.

The birds, he claimed, nested in the roof of the dental section and attacked customers who have attempted to drive them away.

Mr. Boyd said he was unable to confirm or deny the allegations that rat infestation was among the reasons for closing the clinic.

He said that the health department had recently received money to commence a project geared at improving the infrastructure of the health centre. This, he said, would involve changing the roof of the dental services section. Although unable to pinpoint a deadline for completion of the project, he urged our news team to contact him in six months for details.