A demon has entered the mind of Guyanese men

Nov 03, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am desperately pleading for a moratorium on spousal murders, wife battering etc., for it has been occurring with monotonous regularity all over Guyana. What strange demonic entity has entered the mind of the Guyanese males? What has affected their range of vision, to such an extent that they can no longer see a female as a member of the fairer sex, someone to be loved, cherished and cared for, especially if she has made him a father?

Is that all that he can do with the two hands that he was blessed with? Pray tell me what?
In the early 70’s while residing in England, I was repeatedly reminded in no uncertain terms and tones by females of varying ethnic backgrounds, that the reason(s) they would never date a Guyanese man was , (converted into Guyanese vernacular)- Them Guyanese men hand too fast, they like to beat women. So many years later and seemingly so nothing has changed except that now he is not only beating, he’s taking the life right out of her.

Graduation of a macabre sort! This cycle must be broken, if we are to avert a continuation in the generation ahead. No! We must not create or tolerate a next generation of violent individuals in their children. The cycle has got to stop. These perpetrators must be helped, first to discover themselves and then taught effective strategies for recognizing what triggers them, and when they are headed down the destructive cycle toward violence.

Where are the rehabilitation programs in Guyana? Does anyone care? The dead cannot cry out for justice, it is the duty of the living to do so for them. Currently the whole country has needs, some more urgent than others but stuck right up front among the primary needs should be programs specifically designed to stem the continued loss of female lives.

Not for the briefest of moments or the most idiotic of thoughts would I explain or reason away this horrific behavior as stemming from love, for it is in no way, shape or form adequate justifications for their actions. It is imperative that we examine the real state of mind that leads these males to kill their partners, without any fear as to whether or not our findings are politically correct.

A study conducted by the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire found that the reasons why some women were unable to see that their partners were dangerously violent, was due to the fact that some of the personal characteristics of men inclined to violent abusive behavior were the same qualities that initially attracted women to them.

Women may perceive men, who always wanted to know where she had been, as being intensely romantic, only to discover later when she could not act or move without his supervision that she had become a prisoner. The question always arise as to why did the deceased not leave the accused.

The question “why did she not leave? is by far more common that “ why did he kill her?” One of the problem with the “should have”, “could have” conversation is the popular enshrined implication that the ability and the responsibility to change the behavior of abusive men , does not lie with the abuser, but with the partner they strike, strangle, set afire and shoot.

However, if women cannot be blamed for inciting violence in their partners, or at least scolded for not bailing out at the first appearance of the red flag, the problem of why spousal violence happens in the first place, and what to do about it becomes more complicated than asking the repeated redundant question, “ why didn’t she leave?”.

Hard evidence and time has shown us that the “why” may not be satisfactorily answered in every situation. However, with the “why” somewhat unanswered, let us as a collective community answer the “what”. “What are we going to do”, If this behavior continues unchecked “What”.
Taking the “what” to a higher and more serious level’, I am calling on the Guyana Government and her justice system/ agencies to send a strong deterrent as to “what” will be the fate of the next male found guilty of femicide. By extension the women’s rights group in Guyana, for whatever strength they have, or however vocal they are should also be accounting for their “what”. What progress, if any has the organization made? What next? On a sobering conclusion if the women are being exterminated from what source will the next generation emerge? .
Yvonne Sam.