Homeless Malian who charged at officers 'actively psychotic'

Joe Xuereb

Aug 3rd 2012, 22:54

In large cities like London interpreters of any language under the sun are routinely available and used by all the major Institutions like the NHS, the Courts, Education, Local Councils. They are costly but no expense is spared. It is like a new industry, flourishing and lucrative.

Malta is small so the same problem can not be solved so easily. Employing a Malian detainee from one of the Centres or indeed one who roams freely is not to be recommended for obvious reasons. Maybe Maltese schoolchildren could start learning obscure languages and in the shorter term, we could fly a Malian interpreter from London. Having said this, somehow I do not think that Mr. Samake is a candidate for integration into Maltese society. This situation is useful because it does highlight at least that integration slips off the tongue easily enough but the reality is somewhat different.

@ Malicia Dabrowicz (Today, 21:13). Ms. Dabrowicz, it is commendable that you recommend urgent assessment and treatment for Mr. Samake. This goes without saying. That said, I do not think you are right in diagnosing him as suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in your opinion but requesting someone to recognise this so that you may feel smug and self-satisfied at having done your christian duty. That he is stressed, I imagine, is a fact. In much the same way that I am stressed and you are stressed. If we are to play the guessing game, odious as it is, would it not be better for all around for whoever is responsible to ascertain where exactly this man is coming from (not Mali, necessarily). If it is Mali, what made him leave (seeing that Mali may not be heaven on earth as we Catholics imagine heaven, but neither is it at war). He could have been mentally ill, or prone to, or thus vulnerable before he started off. In other words he has 'baggage' that has nothing to do with Malta or the Detention Centres. I say this because so much mental disorder goes anywhere goes unnoticed. It is also possible that the stress he feels is exacerbated by himself (possibly without he himself being aware of this. For this reason what I think we should be even more concerned is the much higher incidence of this type of illness that is going around in the Detention Centres.

People generally often rake risks 'to improve their lot' but some are more susceptible to mental illness than others. They succumb where others might not.

Malicia Dabrowicz

Aug 3rd 2012, 21:13

Please please get him somebody who knows how to recognize PTSD. He is showing three major signs of post traumatic stress disorder!

Gorg Sciberras

Aug 3rd 2012, 20:14

What a shame. He has been under care sine the beginning of April and it has to be a court magistrate to manage to get an interpreter. The mount carmel administration should be ashamed of itself.