I am in support of chemical castration for sexual aberration

Jan 23, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
As I slowly read the news regarding the 49 year old father, a Berbice hospital employee who repeatedly had carnal knowledge of his two daughters now aged 12 and 13 years respectively, and that these despicable acts had commenced since 2015. It was only after it became way too much for these young defenseless victims to bear that they confided in their mother who has been estranged from the accused. My mind settled on a well-known treatment, the effects of which I am very familiar with. In England, the drug Depo-Provera was the choice of treatment to quell uncontrollable libido, especially for pedophiles and repeat sexual offenders.
California is one of a handful of American states that mandate castration — either chemical or surgical — for repeat offenders before being released. Texas was the first state to offer castration to repeat offenders on a voluntary basis. In some cases, surgical castration has convinced judges and state officials that repeat offenders no longer pose a threat.  There may be some who are ready to pounce on me for daring to tinker with men’s libido. There is no way to take Sex out of Sexual Abuse, no matter how hard you try.  According to psychiatrists, rare is the offender who molests once and then self-corrects.  Sadly like a heroin addict he soon gets hooked, and will go to such lengths, and put in energy and time into maintaining that behavior that it becomes an addiction.
According to the psychiatric lexicon, pedophilia is a specific combination of deviant arousal with character disorder. Basically stated, it means that the molester is both sexually excited by children and sees absolutely nothing wrong with satisfying himself at their expense. Beside domestic violence, and road carnage, incest has now taken pride of place among the scourges ravaging an already beleaguered Guyana.
The conscience of the entire populace should be sickened and outraged at such behaviour, angered to the point of demanding harsher punishment regardless of what form or shape it takes. Imprisonment rarely changes behavior, in truth and fact it only suppresses it. After release from prison the pedophile would create new victims, and continue as he ought until caught.
These facts strongly support my recommended manner of treatment—chemically castrate and sexually frustrate.  When a parent has forced himself as a lover in his child’s life, the innocence cannot be recovered, nor can the emotional scars heal. The molestation of any child, worse yet if it your biological own, is tantamount to psychological abuse of the worst kind. Living and loving would never ever be the same.
On a counter – interrogatory note, pray tell me what measures has the Guyana Government  put in place, or intend to, in order to stem the flow, for it is obvious that the molesters know what they want, where to go and what to say to get their prey. Are there any rehabilitation programs, or therapy sessions for these libidinally – supercharged testosterone carriers once they have served their legal time. Is counselling and follow up offered to their victims? Or are they left to find solace, redress and healing among the well-known Guyanese adage- Leave it all in God’s hands and “Time heals all wounds”
Prevention is a must, in fact prevention is the key, and it must start from the grass root level—the schools (elementary and secondary), the churches, workplaces, hospitals, the community programs/organizations, etc. posters, hot lines, tele-counselling and educational programs.  I had called on the government to establish a Sexual Offenders Registry, wherein sexual offenders are listed, and community residents notified of the presence of any or all convicted sexual predators in the neighbourhood, thereby protecting the most vulnerable. Kids have to be taught what is considered the appropriate and inappropriate manner of being touched, in addition to being taught to yell and say “no”, because the perpetrator could be their father, grandfather, neighbour, or Boy-Scout leader.
In April 2015, an overseas based non-governmental organization, the Caribbean Voice had also forwarded signed petitions to the Government requesting initiation of A Sex Offenders Registry. To date nothing has been done. To the Guyanese populace it is time to once again ask the government that you selected and elected “Where is the change”? Seemingly it is way out of range.
As a concerned Guyanese, I am once again calling on President Granger, The Minister of Education, The Minister of Public Health, The Minister of Social Protection, and all relevant stakeholders to carefully consider this pathetic situation that hits at the very base of the moral structure that unites us as a people, and from this day forth to set in place all necessary measures to protect our young from sexual predators thereby auguring well for our collective future. Of greater importance in ensuring that the future of the nation is sexually secure would be heeding of the call for the installation of a National Registry of Sex Offenders.  Mr. President the ball is in your court.
Yvonne Sam

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