Dear Editor,
The focus on the economy without balancing it with the development of the people who will support and sustain nation-building is futile. I pen this letter with much concern because of the continuous violence in its many forms, and deaths of citizens, such as the incident of the soldier who shot his wife fourteen times. Gender Based Violence is a global public health and social concern. However, Guyana can have a drastic reduction with a proper management system of a population that is less than eight hundred thousand. Such incidences total less than 40,000 and are manageable.
Every November Guyana joins with the world in commemorating Gender- Based Violence (GBV) Day along with 16 days of activism, and in the month of March International Women’s Day. In November 2021, the Community Advocate Network, “CAN”, was launched. Speeches are basically the same “ritual” about awareness, a theme is given for the year; the need for women’s empowerment, how many women have broken the glass ceiling and so on, however, without much regard to the daily reality of the prevalence of various types of Gender Based Violence within the communities, households and work places.
This continuous cycle gives credence of an institutionalized system of structural violence. It is my wish, as a patriotic Guyanese, that some of the profit gain from the “oil money” can filter down to create positive development in our human resources. As the president of Guyana speaks of ‘One Guyana’ this proliferates our expectations of Guyana becoming a wealthy nation with systems to effectively handle mental health and social issues, however, there is still much mistrust in the government since many are of the opinion that only one section of the population gains while the grassroots suffer.
The policies we have are generally not enforced. Often times the victims do not have the time and financial resources to follow through, and the social players may have the said traits as the perpetrators, it’s just that many are sheltered by a job designation and a uniform. Many lack the commitment, professionalism and empathy. There are allegations of bribery, or the perpetrators may even be friends with those in authority, hence positive intervention is a distant reality and the situation will seem hopeless, hence leading many to develop chronic illnesses, engage in substance misuse, or become victim to anxiety, depression, teenage pregnancy and even suicide. This is a serious public health and security concern.
I am imploring the government and those directly involved to ensure that policies and laws are enforced. Develop and implement new public policies. Include in schools the HFLE Health and Family Life curriculum to address prevention where all genders will be exposed. For these annual events, select about 40 persons, who are affected by Gender Based Violence, females, males and persons with diverse sexual orientations from the different regions throughout Guyana, to benefit from solid interventions from a holistic angle, networking with the relevant agencies and be monitored properly until a positive outcome is achieved. I believe this can play a vital role in helping to reduce this dilemma. Have proper management, monitoring and a reliable evaluating mechanism when cases are referred to the respective agencies for intervention and progress.
Sincerely,
June Ann Payne
