Citizens are left to the mercy of the mentally insane – Fundamental human rights law prevents Government from intervening.

There are calls this evening for the mentally insane to be removed from the city streets and be placed into a holding facility where they can be treated. Citizens on Wednesday reacted strongly to the brutal cutlass attack by a mentally challenged man which left two dead and two others injured. According to a prominent Guyanese psychologist, people with mental problems often assume a double personality, it’s almost like they become unaware of whatever is going on around them, even if they themselves are committing an act. He added that these behavior patterns  are common in most mentally insane persons which often trigger a violent state of mind. Tonight the Government is saying that a court ruling is required to take mentally challenged people off the streets. The Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy, stated in an interview that the fundamental human rights law prevent the authorities from intervening. While there are shelters and rehab programs for these persons they often fail to make a full recovery since most of them wander off to their own devices.