DEAR EDITOR: We refer to the article that appeared in the Newsday newspaper of Sunday, October 9, headlined “Government's vagrant plan criticized by Health Workers”.

Nursing Administrator Errol Blackman criticised Government's removal of mentally ill persons from the street of Port of Spain and added that it would not work.

The gospel according to Mark records in Chapter 14:7 that Jesus Christ said “ you will always have the poor with you .” This means that no effort to remove the poor from the streets will be absolutely perfect. We think that the Government's campaign to pick up the mentally ill homeless is the best way to proceed.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul operates the Centre for Socially Displaced Persons (CSDP) at the Riverside Car Park. There are rules at the Centre to ensure standards are maintained.

Drug possession and use of are prohibited on the compound. The gate closes at 11.00 p.m. and opens at 5.00 a.m. A number of the residents work and some attend classes.

The mentally ill and sick residents are well looked after in the centre and are given their medication at the prescribed times. It should be noted that the mentally ill and the drug addicts constitute just two of many categories of the homeless.

There are the elderly, the ex -prisoners, the deportees, the HIV positive, the victims of domestic disputes, those whose houses were destroyed by fire etc, and it is unfair to place the homeless in one category.

It should also be noted that the majority of them are able to work their way out of homelessness. Some move on to permanent employment, the drug addicts are sent to Piparo Empowerment Centre for rehabilitation, the elderly are placed in homes for the aged, family reconciliation allows some to return to their home.

The centre is supported by a number of non-governmental and faith-based organisations who run programmes in literacy, prayer and Bible Study.

At Carnival, the Centre organises calypso and ole mas competitions and there are functions to celebrate Christmas, Fathers' Day and Mothers' Day.

The library facility was enhanced by UWI Social Work students. Residents are given a chance and an opportunity for change at CSDP.

We need to thank the Police Service for their support by making regular checks on the ground below the Centre to prevent drug pushing from coming to our doorstep.

The Committee had a meeting with the St Ann 's authorities in March 2005 with regard to the picking up of the mentally ill. The Social Displacement Unit now has it ambulance to make this a reality.

The point made in the article, by Social Worker Carol Callender, for the Government to build facilities for the homeless who have been stabilised is a good one.

We need to remember that the Centre at Riverside Car Park was built at the time when the country was experiencing economic hardship. Now that the finances of the country have greatly improved the Centre could be therefore improved either by refurbishment or reconstruction.

Our committee, which works with the St Vincent de Paul to help the homeless invites those persons who would like to join our committee to call 624-5297/623-4926.

Arrangements will be made for them to see and help with the excellent work of helping the homeless.

Anthony Arrindell,
Secretary for the Friends of the Homeles Committee,
Port of Spain