Dear Editor,
I write on behalf of a poor, unlettered widow of No. 54 village who spoke to me in tears about her state of helplessness pertaining to the police at the No. 51 police station. She informed me that she made a report at the No. 51 police station in January 2022 that one of her sons who was living at her home hit her, was abusive, and was bullying her. The police did nothing. She again went to the No. 51 police station on Monday April 11, 2022, to make a report after her son hit her on the head and was verbally abusive to her on the night of April 10, 2022. That night she became very fearful and went to stay at her sister’s house nearby. The police have not yet arrived. This should create outrage among groups fighting violence against women and children. The least the state should do is to give security to people, especially widows and the poor.
It is poor women, like this widow, whom the police, government officials, women’s organizations and human rights organizations should help. On the Corentyne coast, if one is to go beyond the houses (the big houses) that line the public road, and dare go into the “back streets” one will be shocked to see that there are some poor people who live in shacks and squalid conditions. The poor people, especially poor Indian women like this widow, suffer from domestic violence and are often exploited by “officials” in the society.
I call upon the relevant police authorities to act with urgency, especially when poor, unlettered widows appear at police stations begging for protection. The No. 51 village police station has been a hostile environment. Imagine this unlettered widow reporting her ordeal to the police officer who probably feels that she is not important because she is poor and has no clout in society?
The No. 51 village police station is located in a predominantly African Guyanese village, but it serves a predominantly Indian population on the Corentyne coast. After the No. 51 police station, the other police station is all the way at Skeldon. Another police station is badly needed somewhere in between. Policing needs to reflect the race and ethnic make-up of the communities they serve if people, especially poor widows are to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Yours faithfully,
Somdat Mahabir
