COMING EVENTS

as Letters [

A de-institutionalization tragedy

Lois Boone, NDP MLA, Prince George
North, writes: The story of Bobby Russell is
not unique. The mentally handicapped man
who was jailed in a Victoria cell simply had
nowhere else to go.

The same thing is happening all over the
province as the Social Credit government
continues to release people from institutions
for the mentally ill. With a chronic shortage
of adequate community facilities, many find
themselves in group homes that don’t come
anywhere near meeting their specialized
needs. For hundreds of others, living a life
of darkness on the streets has become
commonplace.

Bobby Russell’s case has been highligh-
ted because a jail cell — like thestreet — is
such an obviously inappropriate setting for
a man who has been brain-damaged from
birth. As his lawyer struggled to find him a
suitable placement, his plight served as a
shocking indictment of the government’s
“de-institutionalization” plan.

For many, moving away from institu-

tions into small group homes or treatment
centres is far more desirable. Yet Russell’s
life reads like a case history of what de-
institutionalization without proper plan-

> No user fees

33 EAST BROADWAY
VANCOUVER, B.C. VST 1V4

ning means in practice. He spent 12 years in
Woodlands in New Westminster. Later, he
was moved to an institution on Vancouver
Island and then released into the commun-
ity. Given to physical violence when frus-
trated, he assaulted his mother and was then
shunted to group homes as far away as 100
Mile House, Vernon and Armstrong. He
was abused in one, another closed and the
third provided no activities. He ended up
once again with his mother, who struggled
to cope with his violent outbursts and even-
tually called police.

The government has been told repeatedly
by mental health experts that there must be
adequate treatment facilities built in com-
munities throughout B.C. Yet people like
Russell continue to be cut loose as the
government pushes full steam ahead with
the phasing-out of Riverview and other
institutions.

Health Minister Peter Dueck can’t con-
tinue to turn his back on people like Russell
and ignore what has become a crisis in the
health care system. The mentally ill — and
the public — deserve a lot more.

CCEC CREDIT UNION

‘Have it all |
With CCEC RRSP's™

> Excellent rates on fixed & variable terms
> Instant tax receipts

= RRSP Loans available
Invest IN YouR ComMmuNITY

CCEC CREDIT UNION 876-2123

MON. & WED. 11 am-5 pm
FRIDAY 1 pm-7 pm

“Keeping our money working in our community”

Glimpses of Nicaragua

’ Ray Holmgren, Nanaimo, writes: Having
an interest in the Nicaraguan revolution and
wanting a break from our winter, I decided
recently to have a first-hand look.

I spent my first three weeks in Nicaragua

VISIT THE

USS

For all your travel
needs, big or small. Let
Globe Tours find the
best way for you.

GLOBE TOURS

2720 E. Hastings St.
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone 253-1221

attending a school called “Casa Nicaragua
de Espanol.” The morning was reserved for
Spanish instruction, the afternoon for tours,
lectures and interviews.

A very rewarding part of the program
was living with a Nicaraguan family. As all
the students were staying in the same barrio
(district), it was very easy to visit with other
students and their families. This gave us a
good view and feel for the people.

The school has a tour bus and it picked us
up and dropped us off at the barrio, lec-
tures, intervews, and so on. I often thought
the bus was the cornerstone of the school as
public transportation in Nicaragua is over-
loaded to point of disbelief.

Our subject matter in the afternoons
covered religious freedoms, workers’ organ-
izations and rights, environmental and fore-
stry problems, press freedoms, political
parties, human rights, autonomy, health
problems, women’s rights, economic prob-
lems, co-ops and the military situation.

I could sum up three weeks of interviews
and lectures by saying the biggest problem
in Nicaragua is the contra war. Too much of
Nicaragua’s finances and labour are going
to combat the contras. Also the only solu-
tion to this problem is an end to the war.

The fly in the ointment is that the contras
are a U.S.-created mercenary force and the
U.S. government will not end the financial,
logistical, political and military support.

After my efforts to learn Spanish I spent
Christmas at Bluefields on the Atlantic
coast.

The people of Bluefields were very
friendly and I had Christmas dinner at the
house of a member of a band called Zenica.
After dinner an impromptu band formed
and we went house to house to play music
and sing.

Some people told me Christmas foods
were hard to get but we were well treated to
rum and snacks. Although I was struck by
the look of poverty of some of the homes we
visited, I was touched by the friendliness
and hospitality of the Bluefields people.

After my visit to Bluefields I decided it
was beach time and went to a quiet little
coastal village on the Pacific.

This place is very tranquil and a great
place to soak up the rays. But a little advice
for anyone going to visit San Juan del Sur:
bring a mosquito net.

I returned to Canada healthy, well-
tanned and happy to have spent time away
from the Canadian winter.

I met quite a few other Canadians while
travelling in Nicaragua. For anyone not

-afraid of a little culture shock I recommend
a visit to Nicaragua, and they could use the
hard currency.

Classified
Advertising

COMING EVENTS

JAN. 29 — Centre for Socialist Education
lounge open 8 p.m. til midnight (every Friday).
Darts, music and conversation. 1726 E. Hast-
ings. Bar proceeds to CSE.

JAN. 31 — HOW TO SOLVE THE PALESTI-
NIAN PROBLEM? Public forum. Speakers:
Henry Rosenthal, editor of Outlook (progressive
Jewish magazine) and Hannah Kawas of
Canada-Palestine Assoc. 2 p.m., 805 E. Pender
St., Van. Auspices: Centre for Socialist Educa-
tion.

KAMLOOPS
TRIB LENDING LIBRARY — 242 Larch Ave.
Lots of labour and progressive literature for
your reading enjoyment at no cost. For info
376-7110. Kamloops.

ACCOMMODATION

ROOMMATE — Male or female. N/S. 2 BR.
co-op townhouse. New Westminster/water-
front. For info 462-8569/7 a.m.-6 p.m. or
521-7718/7 p.m.-10 p.m.

COMMERCIAL
TRIB PHOTOS — Would you like a specific

photo in the Pacific Tribune? Copies available:
5"x7"/$4.50, 8"x10"/$6. Phone 251-1186.

KARL ZUKER
Jewelry Repairs

Reasonable Charge
254-7678

GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print-
ing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. A
union shop. 1595 W. 3rd Ave. Vancouver.
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 733-6822.

ELECTRICAL PLUMBING, appliance repairs.
Don Berg 255-7287.

AUTOPLAN, GENERALINSURANCE, home,
business, trade union. Dave Morton, bus.
321 BIO: res. 433-4568.

VICTORIA
BILL HARTLEY your AutoPlan man. All types
of insurance. Mail in or phone in. 2420 Douglas
Street, Victoria, V8T 4L7. 388-5014.

LEGAL SERVICES

RANKIN, BOND, McMURRAY. Barristers
and Solicitors. 2nd Floor, 157 Alexander Street,
682-3621.

DIRECTORY

COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA offices
located at 1726 E. Hastings St. Vancouver.
Phone 254-9836. Office hours: 9:30-12 noon;
1-5 p.m. Mon to Fri. For information on political
issues or assistance in political activity.

HALLS FOR RENT

RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for
rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430.

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL
CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver.
Available for banquets, weddings, meetings.
Phone 254-3436.

Classified advertising rates $1 per line per
week. Deadline for insertions: Wednesday of
week prior to publication.

RANKIN

COMPANY

Barristers & Solicitors

4th Floor, 195 Alexander St.
Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1N8

682-2781

Offers a broad range of legal
services including:

9 Personal Injury & Insurance claims
o Real Estate & Conveyancing

9 Divorce & Family Law

9 Labour Law

9 Criminal Law

5 Estates & Wills

ee ee SY et ee we ee age me

PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JANUARY 27, 1988 « 11