Dear Editor,

I have been watching the news on television and reading about domestic violence in our country which I found very interesting. I heard our President calling on the religious leaders and many organizations to help fight this atrocious act that is presently destroying the moral fabric of our society. Domestic violence is not a new phenomenon in our country; it’s something that has been there since the beginning of time.

Domestic violence is not limited to physical abuse. It is a pattern of physically, sexually and/or emotionally abusive behaviour used by one individual to maintain power over a partner in the context of an intimate or family relationship. Some of the signs of domestic violence are verbal insults, demeaning or threatening a partner; isolating them from friends, family or other people; organizing schedules to follow or harass a partner; limiting their mobility and access to money; exploding into rages and committing physical or sexual assault against them; negating a partner’s words, ideas, and actions; finding excuses for each attack and promising to stop.

Some of the things on this list can be seen in every home in our country. We have seen husbands threatening wives and children and wives doing the same as well. Most times we believe that men are the ones who are always involved in domestic violence, but we are wrong; women can be heard every day in our various communities ‘cussing’ their children and their husbands. I have seen a real moral breakdown in family values in our society.

One of the major causes of domestic violence is illiteracy, but the highly educated and wealthy also commit domestic violence, and in many cases the men will have extra-marital affairs because they believe they have money. Another major cause of domestic violence in our country today is alcohol abuse and the use of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, etc. I have seen rum shops, pool bars and night spots in almost every community; it’s not surprising we have so much domestic violence. The police and the Ministry of Home Affairs will have to play a more active role to stamp out these bars that are growing rapidly.

I see that people have become very selfish; the rich have nothing to do with the poor; it’s a dog eat dog society we are living in. If every man would help his neighbour no man would be without help.

Yours faithfully,
Rev Gideon Cecil