Operations at the mortuary at the Forensic Science Centre ground to a halt yesterday as the lone pathologist on duty called in sick.
It was not until after 3 pm, that forensic pathologist Dr Hughvon DesVignes, whose contract has ended and was sent on leave earlier this month, arrived from Tobago to fill the gap.
The situation left families of people who were killed or died under suspicious circumstances waiting for hours at the St James facility.
At about 3.05 pm, Des Vignes was dropped off at the facility.
Dressed in a blue jersey with a black book bag strapped on to his back, des Vignes hurriedly made his way inside the building to begin the autopsies of bodies brought in from over the Christmas weekend.
The T&T Guardian was reliably told yesterday that des Vignes was sent on leave just over two weeks ago and was called out as an “emergency call-out” yesterday to work.
“He was at his home in Tobago and had to leave immediately for Trinidad upon receiving the call,” a source at the Centre said.
The on-duty pathologist, who was supposed to work at the centre this week is Dr Eslyn McDonald-Burris. Sources said she reportedly sent in sick leave covering the next few days.
The third pathologist, Dr Valery Alexandrov, is currently out of the country and in St Kitts. His contract expires on December 31, another source said.
During a visit at the Forensic Science Centre yesterday, many relatives and undertakers expressed their utter disgust and frustration over the situation.
Junior Bertice, relative of murder victim, Conan Celestine, 14, who was killed at a relative’s home in Longdenville on Christmas Day said that he arrived at the centre at about 7.30 am and had been waiting without any proper explanation from any official.
“From 7.30 am I here and nobody have anything positive to say to me.
“It is already frustrating and depressing that my cousin came on vacation from Tobago and had to be killed and now to be faced with this long wait. This is real nonsense,” Bertice said.
An undertaker, who wished not to be identified, said that shortly after noon they were told that there was no pathologist to conduct the autopsies and that they were trying to get one to help them out.
“Still there was no explanation to us as to why and how soon and if any pathologist was contacted,” the undertaker said.
Efforts to reach the Minister of National Security, Edmund Dillon, under whose portfolio the Forensic Science Centre falls, for comment yesterday, proved futile.