And while the KHMH's medical personnel work to heal Estell's wounds
another play-play "doctor" has gotten a drugstore into a world of
trouble.
He's a man you met on 7News's pre-lockdown street cam but it's a more
recent viral video that has the Pharmacists Association of Belize up in
arms at the antics of the man who, armed with his secret weapon,
refused to quiver in the face of the Coronavirus. Cherisse Halsall has
the story:
He became famous for this deathless line…
Completely false, but the folksy foolishness of that line catapulted the
man known as "Sutherland" to viral fame, appearing in videos - and turning
his reckless boast into bush wisdom from a self-declared saviour:
But now, in a latest video taken inside a business professing to be a
drugstore - Sutherland is seen wearing a pharmacist's coat and posing as a
doctor.
The Pharmacist's Association says that stunt has taken things a step too
far.. They put out a release saying
"the Pharmacists Association of Belize (PAB) clarifies that this type of
behaviour is not condoned and should not be considered as representing or
reflecting PAB or any of its members. Furthermore, the business
establishment is not a licensed pharmaceutical establishment and is
therefore not legally permitted to conduct such business."
That business is this one, on New Road in Belize city and when we visited
today, it was closed.
President of the Pharmacist's Association Darielle Grant told us via phone
why this silly skit in a pharmacist's coat is no laughing matter:
Darielle Grant - President of the Pharmacist's Association
"I don't see the actions that this specific pharmacy participated in, is in
no way in line with what we stand for."
Jules Vasquez
"How would you answer the criticism, that at the end of the day, he's just
fooling around and it's no the end of the world. Everyone can see it for
what it is but it's really perhaps harmless fun. How would you respond to
that interpretation?"
Darielle Grant
"The part that was very, that invoked a lot of emotion for myself and my
colleagues was the part that, the guy who was wearing the lab coat, wasn't
even a professional. Now, yes one can say that the lab coat is only there
for sanitary reasons but for us who work hard to uphold this standard in
our profession, we work hard, we hold the lab coats to a very high esteem.
So to have someone who was allegedly under the influence and making light
of something that we hold near and dear to our hearts, it's very
offensive."
We reached out to the Ministry of Health for comment. They told us that
the pharmacy in question is not licensed and should therefore not have
been opened. Health officers have made multiple visits to the location,
but have not found it open. We tried today as well, but it was closed.
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Darielle Grant - President of the Pharmacist's Association