PHILIPSBURG:--- The United People's Party (UP) family was shocked after seeing the newspaper photo of a nine-year old school girl on Friday who was brutally assaulted last Thursday morning.
The UP family also condems the senseless murder of a young business on the North side of the island, and expresses its deepest condolences to the family, friends and business colleagues.
It is alleged that the perpetrator suffers from a mental disorder. The Sint Maarten community is very aware of people walking around in our districts who suffer from some form of mental illness/disorder.
Mental health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease. It is related to the promotion of well-being, the prevention of mental disorders, and the treatment and rehabilitation of people affected by mental disorders.
The UP family feels that more resources have to be provided to tackle cases of mental illness and persons in the community with mental disorders, adding that for the national budget of 2015, additional financial resources should be allocated to the Ministry of Public Health budget/Mental Health Foundation.
The UP family extends its prayers and get well wishes to the nine-year old school girl as well as her family during this difficult period.
The UP family fully believes in the premise that mental health is an integral part of health, and that indeed, there is no health without mental health.
The UP party believes this issue is nonpartisan and remains committed to any call to remedy such medical or social ills in our community.
United People's (UP) Party Board