-Manickchand
Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand says that domestic violence will continue to be a major issue in Guyana and is not likely to go away if women fail to report threats or “the slightest attack against them” because of how dire the consequences could be.
Priya Manickchand
The entire issue of violence against women will remain a tremendous challenge if women do not adopt a pro-active approach, Manickchand said, underscoring the need for greater awareness and to some extent, personal responsibility.
Manickchand spoke of a lack of reporting in the attacks suffered by women during an interview with Stabroek News on Saturday and called for survivors of violent attacks to approach the police. She noted that men are attacking women and reports are not being made referring to it as “a serious issue and one which must be addressed”.
The Minister made no specific references about attacks that have gone unreported, but prior to the brutal murder allegedly at the hands of her former reputed husband, Savitrie Arjune of Herstelling had been attacked by the man but failed to report the incident. According to relatives, she was slashed in the side but no police report was made.
Arjune became the latest victim in a string of attacks against women. She was laid to rest yesterday. Last month, the bloodied bodies of Nekecia Rouse and her sister-in-law, Alexis ‘Keisha’ George were discovered in Smythfield, New Amsterdam. They were stabbed to death in a gruesome attack; no one has been held.
Savitrie Arjune
And Deborah Allen of Oronoque, Port Kaituma, North West District was hacked to death by her husband following an argument in February. The man, who also wounded her 16-year-old daughter later surrendered to police. Lotoya Conway Woolford was also murdered allegedly by her husband. He has since been charged with murder.
In June last year the national policy on domestic violence was initiated to bring about changes and break the cycle of violence that continues to claim the lives of women across this country, an ambitious start to tackling the issue that has had little visible impact.
At the core of the policy was the transformation of attitudes that condone domestic violence, but equally important was the need for a multi-sectoral response to the issue that includes the involvement of a number of government ministries, the police force and also community-based initiatives.
Substantially, the policy aimed at reviewing and amending the Domestic Violence Act and increasing the capacity of the police force in stemming the problem by providing the resources for the force to implement the policy and maintain domestic violence units in each division.
Close to a year after its launch criticism of the force’s response to domestic violence is still being aired and calls for a more effective government approach penetrate public debate on the issue, reducing the policy to a policy merely on paper.
But Manickchand on Saturday rejected the notion of the policy being ineffective saying that work is being done, and that “a full report would be out shortly”. As part of the national oversight committee that will review the policy and report on its failures and successes, Manickchand said, efforts are being made to bring about changes.
She asserted that it is difficult to bring about changes if the efforts being made are not cohesive, pointing to the need for the government policy initiative to be consistently supported by the stakeholders, and more importantly, at the individual level.
Without the collaborative effort and women taking control, she opined that the efforts would go nowhere and have zero impact. Manickchand firmly believes that domestic violence can be stamped out.
Thematic Areas
The five-year policy was launched under the theme, ‘Break the Cycle, Take Control’, as a government initiative that would inform and guide future interventions and programmes in the area of domestic violence.
The policy contains eight thematic areas. The first pertains to the monitoring and enforcement of legal sanctions. Among the steps to be taken would be the review of the Domestic Violence Act and its implementation, providing the police force with the resources to establish and maintain domestic violence units in each division and the gazetting of competent social workers.
Under the provision of services for survivors, the policy envisages that a common service protocol will be implemented involving the health, education and social services sectors and the police force. “Reasonable access” will also be ensured by the government to temporary refuges for survivors and the government will ensure that there are appropriate legal aid services to support survivors throughout the country.
With respect to the health sector, all health services will be resourced to provide care to survivors of domestic violence and there will be a standard curriculum on domestic violence intervention.
Thematic area four entails the Ministry of Education working with the Ministry of Human Services to craft public awareness programmes to sensitise students on violence and abuse. Further, the government will support and endorse public education campaigns by apportioning free time on the state broadcast media for public service messages.
Other thematic areas are building the capacity of rural and hinterland communities to respond to domestic violence, intervening on behalf of persons with disabilities and elderly persons.
The final thematic area relates to the monitoring and evaluation of the policy’s implementation and will rely on data gathered from hospitals and health facilities, the police force, the courts and Ministry of Legal Affairs, non-governmental organizations and the Probation and Welfare Department and the Women Affairs Bureau in the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
(Iana Seales)
i don’t think is right….because in some cases you will find they woman might make false report, but each should be investigated,,,i don’t think guyana have the resource for this. an e.g if a women report an abuse in the interior it might take them 1 year to get there by time this they woman dead.
the interior has ‘police outposts’ based at key locations which is as good as any police stations elsewhere……..
WELL DONE…AT LEAST WE ARE GETTING SOMEWHERE….PROTECT THE WOMEN AND JAIL THE GUILTY ACCUSED…
CHILDREN SHOULD BE GIVEN SOME FORM OF PROTECTION AS WELL….THERE ARE LOTS OF INNOCENT CHILDREN WHO ARE BEING ABUSED AND TREATED LIKE ANIMALS IN GUYANA…..THEY ARE THE FUTURE,REGARDLESS THEIR BACKGROUND, RACE OR RELIGION….GIVE THEM THE STRONGEST SHIELD OF PROTECTION,PLEASE
You have a point Yarrow. The inaction of this minister to the said incident has been a major setback for her work. It will take a lot of repairing for her to get back on track. She can have countless meetings with the big one but funding will be left to his whims and fancies. No-one in government can dare come forward to support her cause if the almighty says there is no funds. What we will continue to have will remain ‘lip-service’.
This is good advise, but let me ask u a question Ms. Minister, when they return back home after reporting, what next,? what r u going to do for them. Guyana needs to have a secured place, where women can leave, either if they live alone or with their kids, to some where with financial help given, a job placement somewhere, the scumbag jailed for six years, this long period in jail would deter others, and allow these battered women time to get on with their lives.
Ms. Minister, your Government is wasting beg monies elsewhere, show your women folks that u have the guts to request better for them, call on the President for a meeting, get this long disturbing matter taken care of. Talk is cheap.
Cheryl, I agree with you on the point that there needs to be a battered women’s shelter that is secure and safe. Women will not come forward unless they are ready to do so and they have know beyond a shadow of a doubt that once they leave home, they will be safe. Talk is cheap – systems/counselors have to be in place for this to work. At least there is an awareness that there is a problem
Cheryl this Minister is not good for business can you remember Jag and wife.
This minimum Minister know when to talk and when not to talk but every dog have its day…..
The Minister is out in left field with her portfolio. Tell me, what significant contribution has she made to society, in her capacity as Human Services Minister in that underdeveloped country. Name a significant contribution. All you get from these incompetent individuals is ,’what we are trying to do……’
NENE and Yarrow, the wrong persons wins the Lottos, I’m sure if a Guyanese had to win the power ball or lotto, they would return and build homes, not only for women, but men also, men do go through the same, but r ashamed to report it, because foolices and others would make them a laughingstock, which should not be, we can blogg about this till the cows come home, trust me, by next year nothing would be done, no accomplishment towards shelters, and count how many more would be battered. The predident also needs to stop speaking about, “I know, what I know,” and take care of business.
Cheryl, you are all over the place – I do not understand your response!!!
This is a good step forward. Other steps that need to be taken are:
1. Building secure shelters for the women who report abuse. Often times the men would retaliate when the women report that they have been abused.
2. Children who witness abuse suffer long term psychological effects. They should also be protected.
3. Put counseling in place for the women and children.
4. Come up with courses for the men (women if needed) to take regarding domestic violence, child abuse and anger management. That way they get in-depth knowledge of how their actions are impacting the women and children involved.
5. Reporting should be both ways. Women abuse too.
My list is not in order of priority.
Financial independence for women is one of the best ways to curb this atrocity. These weaklings who insult manhood do this to the women because they know the poor females are dependent on them for financial support. To attain financial independence, girls need a good education, and those idiot fathers and mothers who still do not want to send their girl-children to high school need to be enlightened.
Maybe if the Minister go herself and make a report someone will listen. Otherwise, forget it.
Desi
You can take the horse to the trough to drink, you can’t force him to drink Each and everyone of us is accountable for ourselves. And yes, it’s good to be our brother’s keepers, but change starts when the desire is there
In Guyana even the President’s wife is disrespected and ill-treated. what then becomes of the ordinary woman-in-the-street? Emotional abuse is likely worse than physical abuse in that the lack of beating etc. might lead the woman to conceal or overlook the abuse. The trough is already chock full of very dirty water.
It is about time. Now train your police officers to take these incidents seriously. Remove the perps from the scene; male or female. Take it to court.
Good job Minister!!!
Now, suppose my ex-girlfriend back home sees me on the streets one day and decide to bite me or pinch me, what should I do? Would that fall under “slightest attack” and should it be reported?
Minster what are you doing so far with the allegations made by the first lady?
Also are you going to start a program to encourage young women to make sure they register their marriages?
I think you are missing out on a great opportunity here to use this example of a major figure in the country to educate women on what they should do in the case of being abused either mentally verbally or physically.
Please let me know what you think good minister.