In regard to the recent unfortunate incident at the Police Head Quarters in Philipsburg, which took place on Wednesday May 4th, whereby the young man by the name M. R. 16 year of age who is being held for immigration purposes attempted to commit suicide by hanging, the Police Department is making the following statement.
The police department is confirming that this incident did take place and immediately after the police officers on duty were alerted by the other prisoners of what was going on went to the cell where the victim was being held and prevented the attempt. The paramedics were notified of the incident and arrived shortly after to give the victim the necessary medical attention.
M. R. is no stranger to police because of his involvement in several criminal investigations. R. was arrested on October 30th 2010 as a suspect in an armed robbery. The arrest took place in an old shack on the "Dump" where the suspect was residing alone. He was not convicted for this robbery case and was handed over to the Immigration Department due to the fact that he could not provide any sort of identification.
Several attempts by local immigration officials was made to have the family members of M. R. bring in proper identification however, to no avail. The victim has been abandoned by his family because of his negative behavior. In January 2011 through the intervention of the Court of Guardianship a caretaker was located, where M. R. would be able to stay until his identification was properly established. He was then released in the hands of the care taker. In February 2011 the caretaker informed Immigration officials that due to the uncontrollable and negative behavior of M. R., he would not be able to stay any longer. The caretaker also stated that M. R. was involved in the excessive use of drugs and at one time pulled a knife on her and threatened to use it. The caretaker was forced to flee her home to avoid being injured. The immigration officials were obligated to again place M. R. in custody because he seemingly became a threat to public safety.
In the meanwhile regular communication and consultation with the Jamaican High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago and the British Counsel have been taken place. They have also been informed of this recent incident. Immigration officials have also received conformation from the Jamaican High Counsel that M. R. who, has a Jamaican passport, will receive travel documents to travel to Jamaica after all necessary costs have been covered. These documents will be delivered to the Immigration Department within the coming days. M. R. is not stateless. He is a Jamaican national. He left Sint Maarten as an infant to live in Jamaica with his grandmother and returned to Sint Maarten in 2006.
A psychiatric evaluation was conducted by Dr. Sachin Gondotra who declared that M. R. is not suffering of any mental defects.
In the meanwhile M. R. will be released in the custody of a friend of the family who will allow him to stay until all arrangements have been made for him to travel to Jamaica where he will be in custody of "Children Services."