Guyana must rise to a higher standard of empowerment, protection, and inclusion

Dec 07, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

As a public analyst and community advocate serving both Barbados and Guyana, I strongly support the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The period from November 25 to December 10, 2025, marks a critical moment for countries worldwide to renew their commitment to ending all forms of violence and abuse.

Guyana is at a pivotal stage in its development. While we are seeing unprecedented progress in infrastructure, investment, and national growth, our community and family structures continue to require urgent attention and sustained commitment if we are to build a violence-free and abuse-free society.

Across the country, family-based abuse remains one of the leading contributors to moral decay. I have witnessed far too many school-age children engaging in smoking and other delinquent behaviors—symptoms of deeper challenges within the home. At the same time, many of our elderly citizens remain vulnerable, often at the mercy of relatives who neglect them, steal their money, withhold food or medication, or even subject them to physical abuse. I have received troubling reports of elderly parents being beaten by the very children who are meant to care for them.

Our citizens living with disabilities also continue to face serious challenges. While the Government of Guyana has implemented programs to improve their quality of life—programs I fully support—more must be done to ensure inclusion, dignity, and equal opportunity for this community.

Even with the improvements in school infrastructure and educational initiatives, many children are silently suffering. Too many come from unstable or abusive homes, are victims of sexual assault, or endure daily beatings. They attend school carrying emotional burdens no child should ever have to bear.

Women, too, often endure domestic violence in silence, fearful that speaking out could cost them their lives. Men facing abuse are similarly silenced, pressured by stigma and societal expectations that discourage them from seeking help or expressing vulnerability.

Guyana must rise to a higher standard of empowerment, protection, and inclusion. We must deepen our cultural awareness and strengthen our collective responsibility for one another’s well-being. Breaking the cycles of abuse—against women, men, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities—requires national unity, community action, and individual courage.

The 16 Days of Activism is more than a global campaign; it is a call to action for every Guyanese. Let us commit to building a society that protects its most vulnerable, supports survivors, and fosters respect, dignity, and justice for all.

Sincerely,
Blane R Bunbury
Public Communications Analyst & community advocate

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