Women’s ‘Woes’ abound in Guyana

Mar 12, 2024 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Stabroek News, March 4, 2024, published a timely letter, “Enforcing the new domestic violence legislation will require external support.” Talk about in the ‘nick of time,’ and we have it. What I mean is that right after this forceful letter, really a call for help, the following made news in Guyana:

“Red Thread still seeking answers from DPP on discontinuance of Dharamlall rape matter.” This as we know, relates to “… an explanation into the discontinuance of the rape matter brought against a government minister by a 16-year-old girl in June 2023.” (Stabroek News March 10, 2024) “Parika woman stabbed to death by drunken husband.” This brutality is about “A 24-year-old woman, Nikesha Sutton, (who) was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband at their Parika backdam, East Bank Essequibo residence. (Mar 06, 2024  KNEWS  News). The suspect has been arrested (but the damage has already been done, and the culture keeps gathering momentum).

Then before this (and I ask readers to corroborate and add to the list), I read through the following: Women robbed of valuables at Chinese restaurant- Feb 29, 2024  KNEWS  News; Construction worker on station bail for allegedly raping girl, 12- Feb 26, 2024  KNews  News; Man, 34, remanded for raping child- Feb 22, 2024  KNEWS; Man, 21, granted bail for raping child under 16- Feb 18, 2024  KNEWS; Man on the run after sexually assaulting woman on boat- Feb 16, 2024  KNEWS; “Leh she talk wuh make she get duh lash”- Mar 07, 2024  KNEWS. Ad  infinitum.

So, like Gaylord Riley, I too think that it is a big joke that the “Guyanese Govt (is) to table (a) new legislation to deal with domestic violence.” In fact, what is needed and like ASAP too, is for some international help to come our way. Riley ‘hit’ upon something that might really work, stating that “I think women who have been victims of men-beating’ should advocate that visa revocation start as soon as possible. They should also commit themselves to inform, and with evidence, the US and Canadian authorities, so that their (woeful womanly helplessness) plight can be addressed.”

Editor, concerning this “… young lady from Lusignan (who) was badly beaten up by her lover, who is the actual husband of another woman living in another village close by,” I have been informed that indeed this abuser “… is being processed for the US.”

I was also privy to information that ‘criminalises’ him in the ‘smuggling ring’ as a partner with a good buddy/relative, and of incidents of ‘shootings out’ at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) officials . If the records were not tampered with, this ‘potentially volatile and dangerous’ man was guilty of stabbing a young man in the Annandale Market Road not too long ago. And yes, what is indeed quite shocking is that police officers at Vigilance, Cove and John, and Mahaica are all quite aware of this situation, but they remain docile and thus are supportive of this smuggling ‘woman beater.’ They need to be held accountable. They are contributing to the perpetuation of a horror in Guyana.

Editor, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic and the likes of Dr. Vindhya Persaud have never protected, and never will be able to rescue our Guyanese women folk. In fact, they are incapable of conjuring up even the desire to step in on behalf of  the many female victims of any sort of violence. I ask the same question: “Who will enforce any law where this matter is concerned? In Guyana, lawlessness abounds in all forms and at every level, and there is no need for me to elaborate on this. However, ponder on this.

It is big news when a presidential entourage, led by the president himself, all go out and clean up a village or some specific place. I mean this should  not be published. It should be clandestinely done. This kind of thing is tantamount to admitting that Guyana is a failed society, even in the area of ‘cleaning our own mess.  Imagine a president is being celebrated for ‘cleaning Guyana’s mess!’

So, I rest my case with an appeal to the US and Canadian ambassadors. I ask that you please silence our women abusers and beaters. You saved our democracy with sanctions on those who were attempting to rig our elections. Please be compassionate on our girls, women and ladies. If you do not want to grant refugee status visas to them, or cannot do so, then pronounce a moratorium on issuance of any kind of travelling permits to the US or Canada, on these violent bullies, who are hoping to be sponsored by their kinfolk residing in North America.

Yours truly,

Deodat Singh

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• Deodat Singh, domestic, legislation, Nikesha Sutton, violence

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