| Many homeless persons are also of unsound mind, a state of affairs which not only requires an urgent multi-sectoral response,Cheap Shoes Websites, but the revision of archaic legislation.Ms. Jennifer WebsterThis assertion was made by Minister of Human Services and Social Security,Cheap Jerseys, Ms. Jennifer Webster, during a recent interview.Her views on the vagrancy situation were elicited in wake of the recent physical attack on a 15-year-old Brickdam Secondary student by a mentally-ill vagrant. Reports are that the unprovoked attack which occurred in the vicinity of Parliament buildings saw Kenneth David, a West Bank Demerara resident, sustaining at least two lacerations to his head after being hit repeatedly with a piece of wood by the vagrant.Passersby did not take too kindly to the brazen morning attack and retaliated against the vagrant who had to be rescued by police officers who arrived on the scene shortly after. Both David and the vagrant were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for medical attention. However, only the student has been discharged, as according to Police Public Relations and Press Officer, Ivelaw Whittaker,Wholesale Shoes Suppliers Australia, the vagrant is still hospitalised since he was severely beaten.He revealed in an invited comment Wednesday that “we are waiting for him to be released to follow-up the matter,Jerseys NFL China, but we have heard of reports that the boy has forgiven the man.” There were,Cheap Yeezy Authentic, however, earlier reports that the vagrant had been seen back on the streets.According to Minister Webster, the recent situation is one of immense concern to her, thus she has been calling for the Ministry of Health to work closely with her Ministry. She was at pains to explain that the Health Ministry is the entity mandated to deal with mental health issues while the Human Services Ministry is tasked with addressing issues related to those who are vulnerable and homeless.“Many of these people on the streets are of unsound mind and they need medical attention first and foremost before anything else can be done. I think it is an issue that has to be given utmost priority,” Minister Webster asserted.Turning her attention to legislative provisions, the Minister accentuated her conviction that many of the existing laws are archaic and therefore need to be reviewed to help address the existing vagrancy situation. She stressed that this is imperative since in order for an individual to be classified as being of unsound mind and taken to a mental institution, he or she must first be certified by a psychiatrist.“If you take them off the street you must have somewhere to place them,” the Minister stated, as she alluded to her limited knowledge of some paperwork being crafted in this regard, under the purview of the Ministry of Health.However, Minister Webster said that her Ministry is not only looking to collaborate with the Health Ministry, but has been aiming at soliciting the support of the Guyana Police Force.“We have to remove these people (vagrants) from our streets, more so now, when many of them are threatening the safety of our people,” she said.Following last week Thursday’s incident, Minister of Health,Scarpe Nike Air Max Scontate, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran,Chaussure Adidas Belgique, had insisted that efforts will be directed towards speeding up measures already streamlined. In underscoring that the recent attack was unfortunate, the Health Minister also noted that “it is a social issue that has to be dealt with collectively. There is no excuse…we will be intervening with this wake-up call.” He disclosed that while there are vagrants who are mentally challenged, in most cases, they are substance abusers who can be dealt with by way of social interventions. |
