By Navendra Seoraj

IN a tense and nail-biting situation, patients, doctors and other persons panicked as they were placed under lockdown by the manager of the Cheddi Jagan Dental School, Paul Clarke, on Friday.The situation, which stemmed from a doctor reportedly losing his wallet and cellular phone, escalated quickly, with persons left to ponder why they were being treated as prisoners in a matter of minutes.

Explaining the situation to this publication was a staffer of the institution, who wished to remain unidentified.
She disclosed that everyone panicked when the manager locked the door, because at that time they were unaware of what was going on and feared the worst.
It was explained that patients who were being treated were left with their mouths open while receiving treatment, and in other forms of irregular positions, as the fear grew bit by bit.
Persons were wondering when they would be let out of what was beginning to look and feel more and more like a jail-like atmosphere.

Some persons, she lamented, even appeared as though they were about to break down in tears because time felt like it was never going to pass by. What made it worse, the staffer said, was the fact that it was the first time an incident such as this has occurred at the institution.
However, it was made clear to them through the grapevine after the police arrived and sought to solve the matter. “The police arrived on the scene and were allowed in the building, which remained closed with a number of persons inside.”

Those who were locked in got even more fearful, given that they were made aware of the fact that a thief was lingering beneath their (noses) and might have even been interacting with them throughout the day.

The staffers were left to explain to the patients and others what was going on, so as to bring calm and peace to the uneasy environment.
Details remain sketchy, but she said it appeared that the matter was solved and the situation returned to normalcy in a matter of minutes. This publication understands that the doctor’s wallet and cellphone were found and no one was arrested.

Efforts to contact the manager of the Dental Centre for a comment proved futile. When the Guyana Chronicle arrived on scene, most of the persons had already left, including the manager.