JUST  a few years ago, a poor ordinary Guyanese mother had to bear the unimaginable trauma of having her daughter be the victim of sexual molestation by a wealthy, well-known city businessman who had previously been publicly accused of similar offences but never charged.

The mother rejected offers of compensation, but yet saw the accused freed by the Courts on a constitutional technicality. One can only imagine the suffering experienced by that mother and her family, not least her daughter – the victim, and the struggle they would have faced to put their lives back together and recover from that dreadful experience.

Today, this drama is being replayed in full public view. The details of the offence are just as vulgar and repulsive, and the suffering must be no less heartrending. Even as the public is fixated by the salacious and sensational details of the case, a thought must be spared for the mothers concerned.

Without a doubt, the mother of the latest victim must be agonising about how her daughters could have been spared if the mothers of earlier victims had been successful in their attempts to stop the beast that is the abuser. If only the courts had not granted that constitutional technicality. If only the others were not afraid to come forward and testify. If only the perpetrator had been jailed before he committed this latest offence.

Equally without a doubt, the mother of that victim from a few years ago and perhaps countless others, must today feel a tragic sense of vindication when they read of the current case. If only the courts would take action this time, so that no more would have to suffer like those who have already been victims.

As a society, we must ensure that such mothers are not left to carry the fight against such abusers on their own. State institutions, non-governmental organisation, and all civic minded persons alike owe a duty of care to such victims and their families, and have an obligation to help them in whichever way possible to confront and overcome the spectre of abuse and bring to justice those who commit the abuse.

For this reason, there must be no reluctance about condemning in the harshest possible manner the act committed, and calling for the swiftest dispensation of justice and imposition of the harshest penalty available.

No less is owed to all the mothers out there, thinking to themselves that it has taken yet another tragedy for their earlier suffering to be vindicated.