– Minister Fox slams statement by U.S. psychologist as ‘unfortunate’ and ‘typical of Westerners’
SOME residents of Moruka, where a mystery illness has hit 67 teenage schoolchildren at Santa Rosa, have taken offence to a statement about it made in a psychologist’s report.

The U.S.-based author of the document that has stirred controversy, Ms. Kathleen Siepel said, in her compilation: “In general, the possibility that the problem could be psychological was more common in people with more education and/or more developed leadership skills.”

The critics said the assertion was myopic and perceived as insulting and degrading to the people of Moruka, primarily the Amerindians.

But Siepel maintained that she meant no insult and simply made the observation on one of the facts that emerged.

She was taken to Moruka by the Roman Catholic Church and stayed there four days, during which she was expected to provide some relief to those suffering from the medically undiagnosed ailment that resurfaced in February, three years after it first struck the community.

The victims, between the ages of 13 and 18 years of age, have undergone tests by health personnel who were unsuccessful in ascertaining the cause, with no obvious genetic or other links, nor long term physical consequences.

Minister within the Ministry of Education, Dr. Desrey Fox, in an invited comment yesterday, said such statements like that by Siepel were “typical of Westerners” who have been known to repeatedly put down minorities, who, in this case, are from an Amerindian community.

“It is unfortunate that such a statement was made and is also ridiculous and unacceptable,” she declared.

Fox said a multi-disciplinary approach is required to deal with the problem and the implication that only educated persons could understand it is psychological demeans the people in that community and others who have also expressed their views on the issue.

“Psychology is one part in a number of other factors and, while it should not be dismissed, it cannot be the centre of conclusions,” the Minister said.

Ms. Anita Vansluytman, whose 17-year-old daughter, Duanna Heyliger is afflicted, echoed the same sentiments.

“It is not about who is educated and who is not. We know what psychological is. It, basically, means mentally,” the woman said.

She said the residents understood that some of the girls were affected psychologically but not all.

Vansluytman said Siepel spoke well but, when it came to the sickness, she did not comprehend everything, like their customs.

Mr. Troy Abrahams, whose sister Fiona Abrahams, 17, is also a victim, said he, too, knows the concept of psychology but added that is not applicable in her case.

“It is spiritual, because this is what we see. My sister laid with her eyes closed and I was miles away when she had an attack. So I called the priest and, before he reach her with eyes still unopened, she was shouting for the doors to be opened for him. She was not even aware that I sent for him. So there is no way that is psychological,” he declared.

Roman Catholic Father Oscar Barraza said he needed to clarify the issue with the psychologist since it could possibly be explained.

His opinion on the statement to which objection was taken is that the people of Moruka are simple and good.

Pastor Winston Connelly, of Faith Deliverance Pentecostal Church, concurred that such a statement was an insult to the people and their integrity.

“What that statement simply says is that the people’s beliefs, that have been with them for generations, have no merit when compared to the modern day ones,” he said.

While some stand firm that the sickness is in the paranormal realm and others debate the origin, those suffering are no closer to finding the cause of the mysterious phenomenon.