THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE INCIDENCE of mentally unsound persons causing problems - from minor to serious - is one we are all too familiar with. Some of these persons are pretty much accepted in their communities, as persons in the community know them and know how to deal with them and they rarely ever cause any major problems. But there are cases, which are becoming all to frequent, where a mad man causes serious harm to individuals, such as that in The Gleaner of July 31 - police officers were directly harmed by a mentally insane person. Another incident of a mentally insane person occurred quite recently when a mad man indirectly caused the death of a fellow schoolmate of mine.

I know that there are certain authorities and organisations in place to accommodate and/or provide care and treatment for these persons; some of them even have family members that cater to this. However, there are still problems involving these persons from time to time.

Is it that not enough is being done to control these persons, or to keep them in a stable environment where they are not in a position to cause harm to others or themselves, or are these persons just uncontrollable? Whichever is the case, something will have to be done about them.

Whichever parish in Jamaica that you may visit, you are sure to come across a 'mad man' on the road sullying the beauty of the surroundings. I have, myself, come across some of them in Papine demanding money from me, and when their demands are not met, I am further greeted with threats well known to us Jamaicans. Downtown Kingston could be referred to as the shrine of 'mad men', as they can be seen at every corner.

What the Salvation Army does for these persons and street people on a whole is commendable, but we still need to get them off the streets and in a safe place, with adequate control to actually keep them there.

I am, etc.,

LARISA McBEAN

5 Springfield Close

Morant Bay

St. Thomas

Via Go-Jamaica

mmlarisa@yahoo.com