Abbreviated holiday

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Jamaican authorities’ decision to send home a foreign national who experienced a mental breakdown while holidaying in the island has raised numerous questions for both the man’s mother and a St James businessman, who hosted him at his rural retreat.

According to Thomas Huber, the 31-year-old Swiss national arrived in Jamaica three months ago to stay at his Rastafari Herbal Garden in Retrieve, Westmoreland. The Swiss man, who is said to have travelled to the property for its offerings of wellness tourism, was reportedly battling emotional and mental trauma in his home country.

Huber stated that since staying at his herbal garden, the man has made significant strides. This visual improvement, he told The Sun day Gleaner, encouraged the man’s application for a three-month extension to stay on the island, which was reportedly approved on May 11.

“He was really in a deep hole, but after three months, he really improved quite a bit,” said Huber, who is a Swiss-Jamaican.

HEARING VOICES IN HIS HEAD

However, a few days later, the man was brought to the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay, St James, after expressing that he had been hearing voices in his head, Huber explained. He was reportedly assessed and medicated before being allowed to head back to the herbal garden.

As a part of his treatment, Huber also shared that his guest was told to return to the hospital’s mental health clinic on May 27, which he reportedly did. However, on his return, he was admitted to the hospital.

“Long story short, I waited up until the next morning and I didn’t see him. They held him up there,” said Huber.

Since the man’s admission last Monday, Huber said they have learned from hospital officials that he will be sent back to Switzerland due to the nature of his illness.

When contacted by The Sunday Gleaner, Dr Delroy Fray, clinical coordinator at CRH, explained that there are strict protocols in place for dealing with foreign nationals who experience any form of illness while visiting Jamaica.

He noted that while the hospital staff will work towards stabilising the patient, it is not abnormal for a decision to be made to return the national to his or her country of residence.

“Once the patient is stabilised, we now give the option to return home or continue on their vacation. It is up to the patient. However, if we believe that he or she cannot manage on their own and need family support, we will advise them to return to their country,” he explained. “This is not only for psychiatric patients, but also a general treatment for foreigners.”

While pointing out that he was unable to delve deeper into this specific case, Fray said that the relevant embassy has been notified and that he would soon be repatriated to his family.

“They don’t have a choice; they have to take him back home. We can’t keep him. If he goes back and gets stable, he can always come back,” he said.

For Suzanne V.*, the news that her son’s trip is being cut short is disappointing.

Speaking to The Sunday Gleaner last Thursday evening, the woman said that she was impressed with his recovery since landing in Jamaica.

Suzanne said that she was contacted by a social worker from the hospital, who shared that her son would be sent home to his family and would require pick-up from the airport on his arrival. The Swiss mother is, however, questioning the decision to repatriate her son.

“It is not the best idea to send him back and it is important that he comes out of this hospital as soon as possible and go back to Thomas Huber’s place,” she urged.

“Thomas is also like a very good friend and father figure to my son, so it is not a good idea to send him back. My son has just gotten an extension for the next three months and I see that he has a very good opportunity to keep growing on his journey to becoming healthier,” she pleaded.

At the same time, Huber told The Sunday Gleaner that he, too, is outraged by the decision to send the Swiss national home.

“This is absolutely not tolerable. He was in the process of building trust and the system abused him like this. I don’t think a psychotic person should be placed on a plane because that can trigger something.”

*Mother’s name abbreviated to protect man’s identity.

rochelle.clayton@gleanerjm.com