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Lewisporte Doctor Considers Leaving Town Amidst Racism And Assault Incident
Lewisporte Doctor Considers Leaving Town:
After a traumatic occurrence involving his daughter, Lewisporte family doctor Dr. Gerges Ambarak is considering leaving the neighborhood. After his daughter was reportedly attacked at Lewisporte Intermediate School, Ambarak, who works at the Lewisporte Medical Clinic with his wife, worried about his family’s safety.
Ambarak claims this is not the family’s first racist attack. He told CBC News that his daughter is now stressed and preoccupied by the trauma. The attack is under investigation by the RCMP, which has filed charges.
Ambarak posted a screenshot of a threatening text message calling him “Mr. Black.” on Facebook to raise awareness. Defining races as black and white is racist, the doctor said. We should not be categorized by race.”
The accused student’s father claims the event was a fight that escalated, not racially motivated. He regretted that things had gone too far and wanted to talk to Ambarak.
After reading Ambarak’s article, Lewisporte Mayor Krista Freake voiced her grief and wished him to remain. She said the problem must be addressed and impediments identified to make the neighborhood safer.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey assured Ambarak of the provincial government’s assistance. Furey criticized the event, recognizing his indignation and grief. Despite this unusual occurrence, the Premier feels Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are welcome.
In response to community support for the Ambarak family, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, the Medical Association, and the College of Family Physicians have condemned healthcare system racism. During the call for justice and reform, Dr. Gerges Ambarak takes a week to consider his Lewisporte family’s future. The event calls into question the town’s capacity to offer everyone a safe and inclusive environment.
Upsetting Racist Incident Shakes Lewisporte
Doctor Gerges Ambarak, a renowned family doctor in Lewisporte, Newfoundland, is contemplating leaving the community after a disturbing incident involving his daughter. The Lewisporte Intermediate School attack has shown racism. Family doctor Dr. Ambarak and his wife at the Lewisporte Medical Clinic said this is not the first time their family has been targeted racially.
Dr. Ambarak told CBC News that his daughter is now distracted and under pressure due to the event. RCMP has confirmed an investigation into the assault after charging. Dr. Ambarak shared a threatening text message calling him “Mr. Black.” on social media to highlight the matter. Defining races as black and white is racist, he said. We should not be categorized by race.”
Was It Racism Or An Escalating Conflict?
According to the accused student’s father, the event was a fight that got out of hand. He expressed dissatisfaction at how things proceeded and stressed that the text message was not from him or his family. He hoped for a productive conversation with Dr. Ambarak, admitting the incident’s effect on his daughter.
This disagreement raises problems regarding event interpretation and community prejudice. These diverse narratives emphasize the necessity for open discourse and a comprehensive investigation of the occurrence.
Community Response And Change Requests
After learning of the event, Lewisporte Mayor Krista Freake expressed her sadness and begged Dr. Ambarak to rethink leaving. She emphasized the community’s commitment to tackling the problem and the need to identify and overcome impediments to similar instances.
Premier Andrew Furey criticized the event and offered the province government’s support to Dr. Ambarak. Premier Furey feels that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are still welcome despite the anger and grief. One tragedy does not represent the area.
Local and provincial officials, including healthcare institutions, have denounced racism as the community supports the Ambarak family. This event sparks questions about the town’s commitment to safety and inclusion. This event affects more than just the family, driving Lewisporte to demand change.
Read Also: Racism Allegations Surface Against Regina General Hospital Management
Impact Reflections: A Divided Town
Lewisporte is divided after the reported attack and racial talk. The occurrence has residents asking about the causes of similar tragedies in their town.
Lewisporte Mayor Krista Freake expresses sadness and a desire for reform, but locals are divided on the tragedy. Some say this is a one-off occurrence, not a sign of community difficulties. Others say it illuminates more significant issues that need quick action.
Social media is used for support and protest. Dr. Ambarak’s Facebook post has received hundreds of replies supporting his family, criticizing prejudice, and appealing for unity against discrimination. Dissenters doubt the racist charges and call for a thorough inquiry before making a decision.
This event showed how difficult resolving prejudice in a close-knit community is. It starts a conversation on individual and communal responsibilities. How Lewisporte handles this internal conflict will determine if it will emerge more robust and more united or whether the episode will damage community ties.
Government Response And Accountability: Moving Forward
Premier Andrew Furey’s criticism and promise of government help indicate a systematic commitment to racism fighting. Questions remain regarding how the administration will enforce accountability and promote inclusion.
Premier Furey stressed the need for a complete reaction at a Corner Brook news conference, saying racism is unacceptable. Government agencies, including hospitals, are involved since such occurrences may affect a community’s well-being.
Future steps are expected to address racism’s core causes and avoid future incidents. The occurrence highlights cultural sensitivity and understanding of education and awareness activities. It is crucial to review existing policies to effectively combat racism in the workplace and ensure a safe and respectful environment.
Lewisporte’s future depends on the government’s reaction. Accountability and proactive actions can help reestablish confidence and reassure citizens that prejudice is being prevented.
A doctor in the central Newfoundland town of Lewisporte is speaking up about recent racism his family has experienced — and says a recent alleged assault could be the tipping point that makes him leave the town.
Dr. Gerges Ambarak says his daughter was attacked at Lewisporte Intermediate School on Thursday.
It wasn’t the first time his daughter has been racially targeted, said Ambarak, who agreed to speak to CBC News with his daughter’s consent on Friday in the hopes of creating a safer atmosphere for all students.
“For my daughter, I felt very bad and very sad. She is distracted now. She is under pressure,” Ambarak said.
The RCMP confirmed Friday it is investigating the incident and has laid a charge of assault in the incident, which police believe took place during lunch hour at the school.
Ambarak posted about the incident on Facebook, and included a screenshot of a text message from a blocked number that called him “Mr. Black.” The message also includes a threat of violence.
“These words, black and white, are a type of racism. We are not supposed to be classified according to colour,” he said. “I think this was a big problem.”
CBC News also spoke with the accused student’s father, who said he believes what happened was not a racial incident but an altercation that got out of hand.
“I’m just disappointed that it turned out the way it did… It went too far,” said the man, who said the text message didn’t come from him or his family. “It’s a lot for [my daughter] to process, too, because I don’t think she understood the full consequences of, you know, what would happen after the altercation went physical.”
The man said he messaged Ambarak on Facebook after the incident and hopes they can sit down and discuss things.
Doctor considers leaving
Ambarak and his wife are both family doctors at the Lewisporte Medical Clinic. He said they care for about 5,000 patients combined.
The incident has hurt his family, he said, and he’ll be taking the next week off to consider their future in the town.
Lewisporte Mayor Krista Freake says she was heartbroken to read Ambarak’s post and hopes he will stay.
“If it is an issue, we need to bring it to the forefront. We need to identify what are the barriers, what are the obstacles, why is this occurring,” she said. “And, how do we move forward better as a community.”
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey told reporters in Corner Brook that he spoke with Ambarak on Friday and told him he has the support of the provincial government.
“[I’m] incredibly saddened and hurt. It’s a mixed emotion, angered that this doctor and his daughter had to be subject to comments and potential abuse,” he said.
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association and the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Family Physicians all released statements on the matter, saying racism in the health-care system can’t be tolerated.
Asked if he’s worried whether it will hurt the province’s ability to recruit doctors, Furey said he doesn’t believe it changes Newfoundland and Labrador’s image.
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