Withdrawal of Haitian football team was unavoidable, says Spencer

BY ALICIA DUNKLEY Senior staff reporter dunkleya@jamaicaobserver.com

Thursday, February 24, 2011

HEALTH Minister Rudyard Spencer says the circumstances that led to the withdrawal of the Haitian Under-17 football team from the CONCACAF championships on the weekend was “unavoidable and necessary in order to safeguard public health” and not out of any ill will towards Haiti.

According to Spencer, members of the contingent were screened by public health personnel — as required by international standards — on their arrival at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on Friday. He said health officials were informed by Jamaica Football Federation doctors the following day that six members of the contingent were displaying symptoms of malaria.

According to Spencer, the individuals were taken to the Cornwall Regional but said all six left the hospital without the permission of the medical team. He said following dialogue between the various officials, five persons were admitted to the Falmouth Hospital, while one person refused to be admitted. three cases were subsequently confirmed and another eight persons identified as exhibiting fever symptoms.

The health minister said every effort was made to ensure that the contingent was taken care of, but noted that there was “resistance and lack of co-operation from members of the contingent and others who discharged themselves from the hospital before completion of their treatment”.

Spencer said the Ministry of Health made the recommendation to CONCACAF that the team be withdrawn from the competition in the interest of the well-being of the other teams involved. The majority of the Haitian team departed the island on February with the remainder following the day after.

Tuesday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the “misunderstanding” which sparked much anger in the Haitian community that viewed the team’s discharge as an affront was due in part to “a language challenge”.

Golding expressed “regret” over the extent to which the matter was “sensationalised and exaggerated in Haiti”, leading to protests in which the Caribbean Community flag was burnt. He said Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh had established contact with his peers in Haiti, noting that there was “far better understanding at that level”, leading to the arrival of a Haitian delegation in the island on Monday for further discussions.

Golding said that he had also had dialogue with Haitian President Rene Preval in which it was explained that Jamaica’s procedure for dealing with persons diagnosed with illnesses such as malaria was far different from the approach in Haiti.

He said there was no doubt in the president’s mind as to Jamaica’s support for that country, adding that it was “unfortunate that the misunderstanding arose”.