Dear Editor,
I refer to the article titled, ‘Baramita considers rum ban’ which was published in the Stabroek News on November 21. I believe that the proposed ban on rum would not solve the problems that the community faces, the plight of the victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and self-harm was not addressed and instead of holding people accountable for their despicable, criminal actions excuses were being proffered.
With regard to widespread alcohol abuse, would a ban on alcohol remedy the situation when alcohol is freely available everywhere else in the country; would villagers be monitored and checked? With this proposed measure I reflect on the Prohibition period in the USA and smuggling in Guyana during the 80s. Alcohol can be easily made at home and with demand there will be suppliers peddling unregulated and questionably processed alcoholic beverages. Besides, should the people in Baramita be treated like little children who cannot think for themselves, make wise decisions or take on adult responsibilities? The world is moving towards greater liberalization and freedoms not restrictions and retrogression.
I feel that educating the populace of Baramita on the health conditions that are linked to alcohol abuse would be better. Since this community is so plagued by alcoholism the schools should set aside time each week to guide and educate children on the dangers of alcohol abuse and other social ills affecting them. They should also be taught about responsibility, consent, sexual abuse, domestic violence and the laws of Guyana. The community leaders along with those who have offered assistance can hold educative sessions with the adults using graphic pictures, videos and other relevant materials.
On the issue of suicide, the Toshao stated: ‘Maybe they see suicide as the way out to deal with their problems. I don’t know. Most times they do it under the influence of alcohol.’ Officials should conduct a study/research to find out the ‘why’ instead of speculating. If the ‘why’ is known then appropriate measures can be put in place to reduce the wastage of life. Not because someone commits suicide while intoxicated that means that alcohol is the cause.
People have the habit of focusing on the methods and condition rather than the root causes of the act, in most cases suicide is premediated and the poison, rope or whatever else is just a method used by the unhappy, desperate, depressed person who was in that state for some time. What counselling services are available and what avenues are there to report rape, domestic violence and other crimes in Baramita?
Given the acts that are occurring in this place and the amount of mentally damaged persons there who have not received counselling and/or justice for the crimes committed against then and the abusive conditions under which they live I wouldn’t be surprised if the root causes of the suicides are things other than alcohol.
When I read about the situation in Baramita I thought of the victims, the young girls who have been sexually assaulted, used as pawns, mentally broken and left to fend for themselves. In the entire article there was no mention of prosecution of the alleged perpetrators. I am also wondering about what sort of government intervention was implemented, no details were provided, and the Toshao lamented the failure of the visits by officials.
According to the article ‘Sexual abuse of young teenage girls…by adult miners, police and others is rampant, with parents permitting sexual abuse of daughters in exchange for liquor.’ Don’t these paedophiles know that they are committing crimes which carry lengthy prison sentences? Were any of the cases of sexual abuse investigated by the police and charges laid? Grown men (especially police officers) who abuse children must know that they are committing serious crimes. An article informs Guyanese about horrific sex crimes and domestic violence (acts which are criminal) occurring within the borders of Guyana and no mention of the fate of the perpetrators or police investigation into the allegations.
Do the people in Baramita know that offering their daughters to men to be sexually abused is trafficking, a crime in Guyana and do the laws of the land apply to the traffickers and abusers? If not, this has to change. These monstrous acts should be stamped out. People are free to move to any part of the country and out of the country, and these acts would not be condoned anywhere.
The involved officials should educate the people of Baramita that sexual abuse, domestic violence and trafficking are criminal acts for which they can be prosecuted. They need to take responsibility for themselves and their actions.
Yours faithfully,
Narissa Deokarran
