JUST recently,  I  read through the story: “Woman knifed to death by husband.” This is so matter-of-fact these days.
The question comes back all the time: “Why men violate women?” Just this month alone, three women have been murdered on the West Coast of Demerara; one found in a cemetery, and two in their homes. The latest victim is Rochelle Mc Donald, 33, of Lot 70, Boodhoo’s Scheme, Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara.
The woman who hailed from Enmore, East Coast Demerara was found dead in the kitchen of her home on Tuesday with multiple stab wounds.
It seems as though her husband, Seon Rodney, may have committed the act, since he was seen leaving the residence, in a motor car, PNN 9420, prior to the discovery.
Later, the car was found abandoned, at Cartlon Hall, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, and up to press time, there was no sign of the victim’s husband. Now here is  the other story which has the same theme, only different details.
Bibi Ali, 41, of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, was on Sunday found in a semi-nude state, in the Zeelugt cemetery. She was also suspected to have been sexually molested, before she was strangled.
Her underwear was found next to her body. At the time of her discovery, she was wearing a blouse, while her other garments were missing. A man whose name was given as ‘Sonny’ is suspected to have committed the murder, and he too is on the run.
Well many are the theories that attempt to explain why some men use violence against their partners, be it wife or girlfriend. Some of those theories take into account a number of factors.
The list is long: chemical dependency, economic hardship, family dysfunction, lack of spirituality, poor communication skills, provocation by women and stress. However, there is need for caution.While these issues can be associated with the abuse and battering of women, they are not the causes. If the associated factors are removed, the violence by men against women will not come to an end. So ‘women abuse’ must be accounted for in a deeper manner.
For many, it is that the abuser begins using violence, as an effective method, for gaining and keeping his control over someone else.
He has a kind of insecurity and  continues the abuse and battering for the same reason. It is sad to say but the abuser usually does not suffer any adverse consequences because of his behaviour.
So if a main reason is known, then that is half the problem solved. Now since at least here in Guyana, these vile abusers are treated as normal, then it could be that therein lies a major breakthrough.
In Guyana, the trend is just too established. So something must be done. I think here of creating a national database. As soon as a man is found guilty of ‘women abuse,’ he has to be isolated for identification.
However, it goes a little further.
Most times, a man, being the lone bread-winner of the family, thinks that he can do whatever he wants. Also, if the law takes him to jail, the victim has to suffer even further.
To me, say if it is a working husband and father, then let him continue to work (he has to still provide for the home), but let him be controlled with a ‘restriction’ of space. He must attend a special course on the matter of domestic violence. The problem is in the mind many times.
So by way of repeating, I suggest a kind of isolation and education. ‘There must be no let up.’