Stakeholders seek solutions amid attacks by mentally ill people in St. Elizabeth

 

In a bid to prevent further physical attacks from mentally ill people in Santa Cruz, rigorous stakeholder discussions will begin when the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation reconvenes for the January term.

 

Christopher Williams, Councillor for the Santa Cruz division, says the Ministries of Local Government and Health will be engaged to discuss the way forward.

 

In recent weeks, there have been a series of unprovoked attacks on members of the public involving people said to be of unsound mind.

 

In the latest incident, an elderly woman was slashed across her neck by a mentally challenged woman.

 

Before that, a young child was pushed from a sidewalk into the path of an oncoming truck.

 

The child, however, managed to avoid being hit.

 

Councillor Williams, who has been calling for greater support for people with mental illness, said there is a notable increase among that population.

 

"We have seen new faces in terms of persons who are mentally unsafe. The question is being asked, where are they coming from and why they just keep showing up in the town of Santa Cruz, which is something of concern to us. There are things that are being said.... I don't know if they are being carried there, but obviously something must be attracting them," he explained. 

 

While acknowledging the safe spaces established by the government for the mentally challenged, Councillor Williams is however pressing for additional facilities. 

 

"We have identified properties in Santa Cruz. We have the infirmary lands. There are a lot of properties there. We are saying that we have the lands already. We are asking the relevant ministries to provide the resources so that we can construct the relevant facilities where these persons can be helped," he declared. 

 

Mr. Williams was a guest Tuesday morning on TVJ's Smile Jamaica.