Dear Editor,

We are a concerned group of women who are protesting against the easy availability of alcohol. Alcohol is one of the factors contributing to more and more domestic violence and murders in Guyana leaving many of our children  without mothers, so that in turn these children can themselves grow up to be violent.

Men seem to have more access to alcohol at bottom house rum shops or unlicensed places that sell alcohol at all hours of the day and night.  The prevalence of these rum shops encourages an increase in drinking. We would like the Ministers of Health and Home Affairs to recognize the role of alcohol in domestic violence, and organize and sustain campaigns against the widespread abuse of alcohol. They could begin by addressing the TV ads that glorify drinking, and encourage young people to drink certain beverages so that they could be socially acceptable.

When a man is drunk he is capable of doing the worst to his family and others. We are talking from our own experiences.

Yours faithfully,
Shirley Shaffeek
Babita Sankar
Debra Henry
for Domestic Violence
Self Help Group