By Leiselle Maraj Saturday, August 29 2009

Emris Simon, the woman who jumped off the fast ferry, the T&T Spirit, while it was sailing from Scarborough, Tobago to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad on Thursday afternoon, may spend at least 14 days at the St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital before a decision is made as to whether or not she will be charged with attempted suicide.

According to a source at the hospital, Simon spent most of yesterday morning at the Port-of- Spain General Hospital before being sent to St Ann’s. At about 5 pm, Simon was being monitored at the information and assessment unit of the psychiatric hospital. The source said Simon was expected to be admitted to Ward 16 which is the female forensic area. She will be kept at this ward for an initial period of 14 days during which medical staff will observe and evaluate her behaviour. Following this, officials will submit their findings to the police to try and determine Simon’s state of mind when she made the jump. The police will then decide whether to charge Simon.

The source said there is also the chance of Simon spending an additional 14 days for further evaluation if medical staff cannot properly assess her mental state.

On Thursday, passengers aboard the T&T Spirit looked on in shock as Simon jumped overboard into the sea soon after the ferry began its delayed journey to Port-of-Spain from Scarborough. Members of the ferry’s crew were able to rescue Simon after passengers alerted them to the incident. The captain was forced to turn the vessel around to search for Simon. The incident resulted in a further delay in the ship’s arrival in Port-of-Spain.