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Dear Editor,
The issue of vagrancy in Antigua, particularly in St. John’s, has become impossible to ignore.
Each day, more individuals appear on our streets, many of them disoriented, distressed, and clearly struggling with mental health challenges.
These are not just people down on their luck; many are battling unseen illnesses without access to proper care or support.
Vagrants are often treated as a public nuisance, but in reality, it is a public health crisis rooted in mental illness, addiction, poverty, and social neglect.
These individuals are not problems to be removed, they are people who need help, love, care, and proper treatment.
This is where I call on the Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital and the Ministry of Health to step in with a stronger, more visible presence and a more resilient solution.
Problems and health care needs are not just within the walls of Sir Lester Bird Medical Center or those who have been sent to the locally known “crazy house”.
Antigua needs a mobile mental health outreach program, teams that actively go into communities, identify those who are suffering, and offer them immediate intervention, evaluation, and health care.
There is a need for better collaboration between Clarevue, local law enforcement, social services, and families. Many relatives of mentally ill individuals feel abandoned and unsupported.
Mental illness does not disappear simply because we choose to ignore it. It worsens. It shows up in our communities, on our sidewalks, in our public spaces and we can no longer pretend like it isn’t there.
As a country whose main industry is tourism, it is very much an eye sore to see tourists walking on the streets, especially the most travelled, market street, and seeing these vagrants all around, some sending a stench.
Antigua and Barbuda must move toward a mental healthcare system that is not just reactive, but proactive, compassionate, and rooted in community care.
This is the time for all of us to give helping hands in getting these vagrants the proper love, care and treatment they all deserve as humans.
Sincerely,
McDonald Jones
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What has happened to all those plans for a shelter. there were plans for Miami supermarket whatever happened to that.
Where is turks Lee? Mary John? She forgot some of them?
You are old hearted. Mental illness is very real, and you have no right to suggest that rum drinking etc is the cause of the issue, as research has shown that the homeless and those with mental health conditions use drugs and drinks to be able to cope with the harshness of being in the streets, where they are treated as second class citizens, abused, raped, set on fire and other atrocities from the public.
We need a system that identifies these issues, assesses patients and sends them where they can get help. What they do not need is judgement and condemnation, as illness and homelessness can affect anyone. And when we all get to the age and stage of needing assistance I know that we would want compassion shown to us in our vulnerable state.
Let’s show them the love of Jesus. Mary John is a wonderful advocate who uses her experience to help others. I know that this is a matter close to her heart.
, are fully entitled to you opinion. All of a sudden Antigua is saturated with sofa psychiatrist and psychoanalysts. The new buzz term these days is “mental illness” so that every social aberration is due to mental illness. I know at least three of the market street gathering. RUM or more specifically THE LOVE OF RUM is primarily responsible, but I guess that excessive RUM drinking, repetitive thievery, and a deliberate aversion to work are all conveniently packaged in the Mental Illness bag and everyone should rally to the assistance of these very happy old boys. Before swelling the numbers in the mental home, unnecessarily, they need to be placed some where to dry out followed up by mandatory AA sessions . As for that “yankee” who is appalled at what sees during his visits home….. just gimme a darn break. You don’t have to travel home to see vagrants! They are all around you in every state of your pristine US!!!!!
Yes more people are aware mental illness exist because that’s the power of education. oldman, I know they ignored mental illness from your time but you have the internet to educate yourself about many things in life you don’t understand, @concerned explain things quite well and you should take the time to read that.
Pure selfishness in your words Devorn. Think about all these Dhar Mann videos that shows how vagrants have a story. Drugs n alcohol cannot be the reason. I know who has a story to tell n he have been neglected for many years. Some of them may have went to jail and society refuses to give them a second chance. You should be ashamed to sit and type this under here.
Some of them are on the streets cause that’s where they want to be. Let’s not get it twisted. Better someone just kill them out and done. Cause taking them off don’t matter. All the alcohol and drugs in them. Some of them thief thief. Chupzz. Why don’t you lend a helping hand
I totally agree with all that is said here! It’s about time this happens. We have had enough of our authorities slackness towards anything.
At least someone has to say it. As an Antiguan born living overseas, I very well fly in to Antigua a lot as I have family here. It’s very shameful that this is the kind of things thats happening in our today. The Ministry of Health can do more for these vagrants. Even the Psychiatric Hospital. These vagrants has a story as well. We can’t just sit there and say drugs and alcohol tun dem so. They may need counseling, someone to hear n listen to them! They need the help
@ Luka Johnson, whole ton more there to show up on our streets. Excuse me for saying this but whole ton ah dem turn so because of bad mind and covetousness. PLEASE don’t get me wrong, there are those who, unfortunately, have met circumstances that hinder or alter their mental function and wellness, which we are all aware of, and we are willing to assist but Antigua and Barbuda has a culture of grudge, bad-mindedness, and selfishness beyond explanation. Let’s call a spade a spade.
I don’t know how there are so many cases like this in a small island
McDonald Jones, I wholeheartedly agree with everything you have just stated. Let’s be proactive when it comes to mental health issues and take care of all our people, and above all else, let’s stop stigmatizing mental health. It’s an illness, all be it with many branches, that can be and must be treated. Minister of Health, the ball is in your court.
Well said. A country is often judged on the way it treats its most vulnerable. Antigua needs to step up.