The sad fact is there will be more Leonard Archibalds

Sep 27, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I pen this letter amidst the anguish I feel like so many right minded persons trying to come to grips with the brutal sodomy and torture of a child who’s unconscious body was dumped to be engulfed by waves and left to be masticated and torn to pieces by vultures. This most horrific story which lit up every print, video and social media highlighted on young Leonard Archibald’s death at the hands of adults should give us all pause to reflect on our role in keeping our society’s children safe from such perpetrators.
From all accounts this is not the first act of abuse and sodomy committed by the perpetrator(s) yet persons capable to committing such horrendous acts are allowed to roam free in our communities amidst the most vulnerable; our children. The saddening fact is; its seems from all accounts that have been reported in the media, law enforcement officers were notified at different periods when others had cause to report their experiences of abuse by the hands of the same perpetrators now held responsible for the death of young Leonard. If we are not questioning why such persons are escaping the long arm of the law in light of repeated reports, then we are missing a key element of keeping our most vulnerable safe.
Editor, I acknowledge and applaud some law enforcement officers have been stellar in their bid to respond and provide guided assistance to civil society organisations and groups to assist their clients that encounter undesirable social practices such as abuse, sexual and domestic violence, neglect, crime and discrimination as a result of sexual identity, HIV status and suicide just a few among the list. However, officers who took an oath to serve and protect refuse to follow the principles of the law as a result of other influences which cause them to elevate self-interest ahead of that of society. The sad fact is there will be more Leonard Archibalds since they are still too many law enforcement officers who do not see themselves rocking the preverbal boat by exposing those in our society who think they can evade the law because they well-resourced.
The Guyana Civil Society Leadership project which is implemented by Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) Inc., a local non-governmental organization (NGO) and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is working with the National Coordinating Coalition (NCC) Inc. comprising thirty four (34) NGO members that provide services to their communities by responding to many of the societal challenges such as those listed above. Through this partnership many incidences of sexual abuse and violence meted out to children and adults are uncovered. Regrettably, many of these incidents have been occurring in the Berbice, Region #6 area. They have a common feature of less than willing police officers to follow through with the complaints of the victims and more often than not, victims are left to face the fire and resign themselves to living with their perpetrators who continue to inflict harm on them.
In 2014, members of United Brick Layers an NGO located in New Amsterdam Berbice intervened when they discovered a two year old boy was consistently raped by his biological father. On uncovering the bleeding anus packed with talcum powder to stem the flow of blood the crying toddler was being comforted in the arms of his timid mother.
The child was examined by a physician and the following procedures of reporting, evidence collecting and sharing was done, multiple back and fourths ensued with relevant agencies including the child protection agency and the police with the hope of protecting this child and getting the perpetrator away from him to the help he needed. Well it’s tragic to learn three years later; October14th 2014 to September 14 2017 since this incident was uncovered, no arrest was ever made and that child remained in the same household for all these years.
The question begs: when is it sufficient to stop being outraged and stand up and speak out to protect our children, our families and communities? To whom does the responsibility belong? Are we willing to continue to be bystanders and stop at expressing dismay the next time appalling abuse or the death of an innocent child is made public by a deranged sexual pervert? If your answer is no, then I plead with you to join the effort to keep our children safe and assist those responding to the call to help fix these challenges.
Contact your local NGO and get involved in protecting your community’s’ children. I urge you to visit the NCC website nccgy.org, look up your nearest NGO and give them a call. It will take many more civic conscious persons to successfully counter this damaging scourge. The views represented herein do not express those of USAID or any other organisation I am affiliated with
Simone Sills

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