Family of Berbice rape/murder victim to receive counselling

Oct 14, 2017 News

– Public Health Ministry

The Ministry of Public Health will commence counselling for family members of teenaged

Murdered: Leonard Archibald

rape/murder victim Leonard Archibald.
This was disclosed by Balagun Osunbiyi, Senior Psychologist attached to the Mental Health Unit, a release from the Ministry stated.
“Counselling is among a series of key interventions needed to help family members of murdered 13-year old Leonard Archibald of Lot 51 Brothers East Bank Berbice whose body was recovered in the Berbice River some three miles from his home,” the release said.
According to the release, Osunbiyi revealed that the counselling package will include psycho-social and problem-solving skills, coping and refusal (not yielding to peer pressure etc.).
Osunbiyi said mental health, social workers and a psychologist have already visited the grieving Berbice family.
The parents of the deceased child, who are understandably traumatised, said they will “not rest” until they receive justice for their murdered son.
“As a result of the obvious trauma, the Public Health Ministry will be offering counselling for the family which will include the older children and the father, Walter Archibald, who is a Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) employee and also a part-time fisherman,” Osunbiyi said.
Two suspects, Hilary Edwards, 29, of Sisters Village and Odediah Christopher, 19 of Skeldon, Corentyne and also of Sisters Village, have since been charged with the teen‘s murder.
The release noted that prior to Archibald’s death, residents were silent about sexual assaults in the village. According to Osunbiyi, villagers disclosed that while there are several known paedophiles roaming the Brothers, East Bank Berbice community, and one of the individuals who was charged was “the worst” of the lot.

Murder accused Hillary Edwards (left) and Obediah Christopher

“The villagers have also revealed that this individual is believed to have sexually molested some one dozen other young men in the community.
“As a consequence of this revelation, the Ministry of Public Health will also be undertaking sustained community-sensitisation programmes to help familiarise residents with techniques to spot both perpetrators and victims of sexual assaults.”
Osunbiyi explained that a profile of perpetrators of sexual violence reveals that some might have been victims themselves.
“As a consequence, these victims have difficulty maintaining personal relationships with adults. They prey on others with unresolved sexual issues and are usually hooked on addictive substances.”
He said rapid change in behaviour; unpredictable and inexplicable mood swings; expressions of violence and ‘cutting’ themselves, are among the tell-tale signs of victims of sexual violence.
The Guyana Police Force revealed that Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Oswald Pitt has been dispatched to Berbice to investigate reports of numerous sexual attacks on other young men.
ASP Pitt will also investigate reports that ranks failed to act on the complaints that came to them.
A release stated that the Administration of the Force noted the concerns of Leonard Archibald’s relatives and others that police in the district “may not have acted professionally” in responding to reports about one of the accused.
Pitt can be contacted via cell phone on 661-5870 for the purpose of this investigation.

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