I respond to the column of Stella Says, titled “Sunday sermon to religious leaders” in the KN edition of October 03, 2010. I must say without a doubt that there has been a drastic reduction of domestic assaults in Guyana since the PPP/C enacted and strengthened legislation in this area. The Minister responsible has made it clear that the police will act immediately on any complaint of domestic abuse and they have done so. The Courts in Guyana has closely followed up on this type of abuse and in some cases jail sentences were imposed. No one can stop another person from committing domestic abuse except him or herself. Domestic abuse goes both ways: Women are abused by men and men are abused by women, only that men do not want to report these incidences more frequently.
Generally, people who go to churches, mosques, temples etc., in Guyana, are God fearing ones and do not commit crimes of domestic violence.
But before Stella should disparage Guyana and its’ people, she should take a hard look at the facts of her own City of Houston, state of Texas. The following paints its’ own picture:
This is Houston, Texas and America: It occurs among people of all ages, races, income levels, and educational backgrounds. The statistics are chilling:
Thirty percent of the women murdered in this country are killed by their husbands, ex-husbands or boyfriends.
Three to four million women are beaten in their homes each year by their husbands or partners.
Attacks by husbands or significant others account for more injuries that require medical attention than do all the rapes, auto accidents and muggings combined.
In Texas alone, 1,308,216 women — 18 and over — have experienced physical abuse.
A woman is battered every 12 seconds in the United States.
According to a study conducted late in 1998* and reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, more than one out of three women treated in community hospital emergency departments say they have experienced domestic violence during their lifetimes. The survey also identified four risk factors for physical or sexual injury from abuse within the past year: women between the ages of 18 and 39, who report a monthly income of less than $1000, who have children younger than 18 years old living in the home, and who have ended a relationship within the past year. Researchers point out that heightened awareness among hospital emergency departments because these may be the only contacts that many abused women have with health care professionals.
There are hundreds of similar findings of domestic abuse in America, not to mention Canada. This information is available on the internet. The holding centers in Toronto area are always full of people allegedly committing domestic violence crimes. There are special courts to handle this type of crime.
I ask Stella: What has she done to stop domestic violence in her own State? Your state is predominately Christian, and its’ citizens continue to abuse their spouses at an alarming rate. Does this not tell you something?
You feel you have the inherent right to pen whatever you feel like, without any research or facts.
She noted that disrespect for women in Guyana is ingrained in the society. On what grounds and facts have you made such a determination? How would you, Stella, describe domestic assault and disrespect of women in your state?
I say people who live in glasshouses should not throw stones.
I say to Stella Says, that the Guyana Government is in the right direction to reduce and prevent domestic assault. They have made available special grants for single mothers and provided retraining to many. Special counsellors have been appointed to deal with the after effects of domestic abuse with offices all over the country. I see no mention of this in your column. Even Steven Wonders and Ray Charles could have seen the improvements!!!