PHILIPSBURG - It was a pitiful site to see on Monday afternoon at around 1:45pm when Richard, a well known tall drug user, collapsed to the ground apparently suffering from a seizure.
Its is not known if he suffers epileptic seizures or a similar disorder but he was observed convulsing in the middle of the Cannegieter Street where he had fallen.
Richard who can be observed on any day washing cars, doing small errands as well as, "hustling" as its termed, has a makeshift home, so to speak, in Philipsburg in the vicinity of the GEBE Distribution Building.
Many persons nearby commented that his usage habit combined with the hot midday sun may have contributed to the state that he had found himself in.
After a short while Richard was taken by ambulance to the St. Maarten Medical Center where care was given.
It is a sad state of affairs that there is no way to help this man. But for the grace of God there goes I. He could be any of us. Wouldn't you want help. I was very sad to see that people around could watch and take pictures while this man lay in pain on the dirty road. Shame on you all, you disgust me, I am ashamed that you even live on sxm much less to have been born there. Don't worry, what goes around comes around. So you will get yours unless you repent and whole heartily change your ways.
Richard is a kind, friendly and caring person. We need people like him. One can have their cars washed for little change from these drug addicts. They also are important to get street information from. Rest in peace Richards. We love you.
How much longer can our people endure the pressures of this life. He needs a home, like many homeless people on this island. He needs food like many hungry people on this island. When are the business people of this island going to wake up and realize that they are not helping the helpless,knowing full well that they are the ones who are harrassing the tourist daily, robbing them daily, begging them daily, and making st.Maarten look bad. If the business community could only embark on some typr of humanitarian assistance, we would not have all these crackheads walking around the island. Have you realized that a lot of them have been killed while the rest are dying of drug abuse and natural causes. Help our people, to help themselves. I call on all opportunists to do something.
you mean people just passed the man by just because of who he was,shame on each and every one of you who did, one day dont be suprised you might need his help.i hope each and every one kids never fall short because nobody is guaranteed anything.
While I feel sorry for the man I cannot understand why so many are blaming others for his fate. First up, if you are not a medical provider you should not tend to someone who falls ill since you can do more harm than good. Who ever called the ambulance did the right thing. No one knew what was happening to him.
Secondly, why blame the business community for not doing more to help drug addicts? When they started using drugs they did so out of free will. Why don't their families and Govt. pick them up off the streets and place them at turning point and in homes? Why don't you, who criticize, take them into YOUR homes.
Most of the drug users, who are living on the streets, do so because they want to. I have tried to help one by feeding him, cleaning him up and getting him a job. You know what? All he wanted was money (no job) to go buy, so called, food. If I am giving you free food why do you need the money to go buy food? A job would get you the money you need.
So please don't blame businesses for not feeding the hand that is stealing from them. They simply don't want help. They need professional help. Handouts are not the answer.
@ wow. You blame SXM people for being heartless. How many who passed him by were SXM'rs? SXM'rs are outnumbered on this here Island. I am a SXM'r and I at least tried to help one.
@mixed feeling nomatter what u saay it's sad to see heartless ppl, may god bless u for helping the drug addicts, but no one should be subjected to the shit what appeard in this clip/paper. human rights should not be at risk like that. helping someone dose not mesn u have to know them it could have also mean that u cared... life goes on, we should respect everyone drug addicts and all!!!!
Richard fell victim to a nasty Habbit which has caused him to be homeless, just like a lot of the other Crack addicts out there who prefer to work for an honest dollar than Hold you up and Rob you.
I know Richard, he is a very helpful person like Tommie these guys need Help. People scorn them and treat them like Dogs,remember the Bible has taught us that we are all brothers and sisters
YOU MEAN THAT COS HE IS A DRUG ADDICT HE DON'T WORTH THE CARE OF ANY NORMAL HUMAN BEING, WE CAN SEE THE BIBLE IS REALLY TRUE, AND THE EMS WORKERS ARE ALL THEIR GOD GIVING TIME TO ASSIST HIM, N FOR ALL YOU THAT JUST STOOD AND WATCH OR JUST DRIVE BY, I PRAY THE LORD HAVE MERCU ON UR SOULS, MAY U ALL ROTH IN HELL!!!! THAT'S WHY SXM HAVE SO MUCH MALEDICTION U PEOPLE ARE TO WICKED!!!!!
to WOW:
If u are an educated person, you would know that it takes someone with experties to handle a person that is going thru a seigure. One cannot just run up to the person and help them, this could make the situation worst. So don't just sit there and ask if nobody couldn't help him and call sxm poeple nasty. DO YOUR HOMEWORK !!!!!
dear all do you know that moving a person could cause more harm than good?and if you werent there how could you know how you would react?so please be don't point fingers.help if you can help as long as you have the knowledge of what your doing.THX
to mix feeling, soldier and my 2cents.
i fully agree with what you all is saying. but tell me to just hold a sheet or a umbrella over him from the sun. that is harming him. to stop the trafic let them go in the next direction that is harming him. there so many things you all could have done beside just standing and video taping and looking on. oh i forget it not one of your family. ells you all would have been screaming long time looking for help.
that why we will never go no were here in sxm.
Richard use to sell drugs also just like alot of people i see yall bad mouthing when they get caught here in the news. But I guess since he is poor and has nothing now everyone likes poor little RICHIE. Damn Hypocrites.
@ trouble.
I agree with what you are saying and knowing myself, had I been there, I would have done exactly that. Try to shelter him or make the traffic aware of what was going on. “That is how I roll”. I do not scorn anyone and I am not afraid to get my hands dirty IF I have to. Only thing, if you mash my corn, I surely will mash up your feet. Unfortunately for him I was NOT in the area. Now you tell me honestly, what would you have done? I really do wonder.
I do repeat that the persons around him were right to not try to move him or even give him water or anything, since they could have killed him by taking the wrong actions. Someone called the ambulance and I applaud them for that.
I, however, do hope that YOU do practice what you preach in order for us to, someday, get somewhere in SXM.
Richard was a heavy roller in his hay day. He was one of St. Maarten's super stars among the female tourist. He was a charmer for the White chicks, especially when he got on the dance floor. He partner in crime died years ago with AIDS. Charmer par excellence. Today that life caught up with him. The Yankee girls, the drugs, the sex all came crashing down on poor Richard. He had no vision and now he is perishing. This is the impact of the tourist trade. To roll with the tourist, you needed to provide the drugs for the chicks. the tourist trade brought us AIDS,DRUG ADDICTION, GAMBLING,PROStitution,Lesbianism, Foggotism and all the ills of the outside world. St. Maarten is now a cesspit where only the strong will survive. We have lost our morals, we have lost our land, we have lost our souls. Richard is nothing more than a victime of St.Maarten's PROGRESS. That is my phylosophy, what is yours.
PHILIPSBURG - It was a pitiful site to see on Monday afternoon at around 1:45pm when Richard, a well known tall drug user, collapsed to the ground apparently suffering from a seizure.
