National Drama president drowns

THE LOCAL theatre fraternity was thrown into shock and mourning by the drowning of National Drama Association of TT (NDATT) president Edwin Erminy.
One of the men who tried to save the Venezuelan production designer has strongly criticised the “casual and cruel indifference” of health officials at the Grande Riviere Health Centre.

Gareth Jenkins, who was in Grande Riviere on a surfing vacation, told Newsday on Monday around 5pm he was surfing at the eastern end of the beach at Grande Riviere by the Mt Plaisir Estate Hotel. While walking back towards the hotel he noticed two people in the water (later he learned they were 59-year-old Erminy and his husband Raymer Diaz) and thought it was a strange place to be swimming with the high swell. He then noticed his brother-in-law taking off his hat and T-shirt and running into the water.

“I ran as well. Then two young villagers ran too. We managed to get the two of them to shore. Edwin seemed unconscious already.”

Jenkins said he, his brother-in-law and the hotel owner began administering CPR to Erminy as best they could.

“We pumped his chest and gave him the kiss of life. But we kept getting less and less of a response.”

He recalled people went looking for help at the health centre next to the hotel. He said it was reported that a health official was present but would take ten minutes to arrive.

Jenkins said they were told “the doctor on duty said, ‘Why can’t you bring the patient to us?’ rather than coming to see. This is someone dying on the beach.”

He said eventually an ambulance arrived and a man came out wearing surgical gloves and “ambled” across the sand.

Jenkins recalled saying: “Are you a medical professional? Come and help. It’s an emergency. Come on, man. We need you.”

He said the man told him, “This is the fastest I am walking on this sand.” He recalled the man arrived, did not ask any questions and began administering CPR. He said Erminy was then loaded on to a stretcher into the ambulance and they were subsequently told he had died. Jenkins said a police officer questioned Diaz, whose first language is not English, and who was clearly distraught.

“Maybe if the doctor got there on time it would not have made a difference. But at least try. Show some value of human life. At least take your responsibility seriously, not worry about getting your shoes dirty on the beach. What has this place come to, man?”

Jenkins said the system did not just let down Erminy and his partner but the whole society, and called for an enquiry.

Eastern Regional Health Authority CEO Ronald Tsoi-a-Fatt told Newsday he was not aware of the incident but would get in touch with the head of primary care.

He later told Newsday he had asked for a full report to ensure the facts are clear, including the timing of the response, and should have it by today.

“I am very sorry the person passed,” he said.

OUTFLOW OF TRIBUTES

The TT Performing Arts Network, in a statement, expressed condolences on Erminy’s death.

The group said Erminy was an architect and scenographer from Caracas. He was associate professor of scenic design at the Arts University in Venezuela from 1999-2013 and up to the time of his death taught scene design at the UTT Academy for the Performing Arts.

He served as National Drama Association (NDATT) president from November last year, previously holding the position of education officer. Former NDATT president Wendell Etienne said Erminy’s death was definitely a blow to the association.

“Edwin was a true servant to the theatre landscape and despite a hectic schedule he stepped up, offering to serve in the capacity of president. His appointment was met with enthusiasm and hope that the revival process would not just continue, but he would have been involved in some groundbreaking initiatives.
"His passing is a loss to his family, friends and the entire theatre fraternity. Loss is never easy, but his contribution will certainly live on through his students and colleagues.”

NDATT secretary Safia Niamat-Ali recalled Erminy provided sets for the New Play Festival in 2017 with no budget, but had the idea of using recycled materials and having his UTT students design and construct the sets.

“There was never an idea you could bring to Edwin and he would say no to.” She said Erminy was asked to become NDATT president because he was always the one to find a way to move forward when an impasse was reached. Paulette Alfred, a UTT co-worker, said Erminy loved people, loved his students and put 150 per cent into his work.

“He was like family.”