.jpg)
ON Tuesday (June 25, 2013), I was travelling in a car that was pulled over by four traffic officers on the Kitty public road, near the GUYOIL gas station. The driver, who was speeding, was asked to step out of the vehicle. After some five minutes, I exited the car with the intention of meeting the driver. Whilst walking, one Officer Rose (badge no. 17566) made severely inappropriate remarks about my appearance. For some seconds, the shock of the harassing comments floored me. Afterwards, with a considerable amount of restraint I responded to this officer highlighting just how unwise it is for a person of uniform to address any woman in this manner. I assume officer Rose was somewhat shocked at my response, because his disrespectful grin was replaced by a straight and sober face as he walked away from me.
I made my way to the driver, who collected his tickets after some minutes. Whilst waiting, this particular traffic officer made his way up to us, but did not engage us. This was when I took the time to scribble the name and number on his badge.
I would like to say that, as a young Guyanese woman, this was the first time I experienced inappropriate sexual remarks from a traffic officer. It infuriates me to think about how many other women have had to deal with remarks of this nature from this section of public servants. These are the very same public servants to whom trust, power and resources are allocated to maintain civility and order.
Administrations of the past and present have failed to address the degenerate and corrupt mentality so characteristic of traffic officers. I have realised that these traffic officers are also sons, fathers and brothers, and it is sad to know that this is the quality and disposition of some men, with or without uniform.
The realisation from this encounter that the uniform these men wear would actually embolden – instead of deterring them, is what has infuriated me. I urge other women to not let these remarks “pass”. I urge these women to identify these traffic officers and police and expose them. Unfortunately, I myself am not too convinced there is any legal redress to these comments, but I hope that by not accepting them I am somehow getting closer to the Guyana I would like my future daughters to live in.
I made my way to the driver, who collected his tickets after some minutes. Whilst waiting, this particular traffic officer made his way up to us, but did not engage us. This was when I took the time to scribble the name and number on his badge.
I would like to say that, as a young Guyanese woman, this was the first time I experienced inappropriate sexual remarks from a traffic officer. It infuriates me to think about how many other women have had to deal with remarks of this nature from this section of public servants. These are the very same public servants to whom trust, power and resources are allocated to maintain civility and order.
Administrations of the past and present have failed to address the degenerate and corrupt mentality so characteristic of traffic officers. I have realised that these traffic officers are also sons, fathers and brothers, and it is sad to know that this is the quality and disposition of some men, with or without uniform.
The realisation from this encounter that the uniform these men wear would actually embolden – instead of deterring them, is what has infuriated me. I urge other women to not let these remarks “pass”. I urge these women to identify these traffic officers and police and expose them. Unfortunately, I myself am not too convinced there is any legal redress to these comments, but I hope that by not accepting them I am somehow getting closer to the Guyana I would like my future daughters to live in.
