ONE must again ask the question – how fair, and objective is the senior political Opposition party, the A Party for National Unity (APNU), led by Mr. David Granger? This question is posed, in relation to how much this coalition, that is mainly the PNC/R, is prepared to put aside cheap politics and scoring political points from such a meaningless and unedifying  tradition that is unhelpful to its understanding of this country’s challenges.

A recent press conference at which leader David Granger and some of his  senior party members declared their no-confidence in the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Human Services Ministry, and the Guyana Police Service, in these institutions’ dealing with the problem of inter-personal violence, especially that of domestic violence, brings to light once again this party’s natural predilection for subjectivity in assessing very complex issues.  In a gist, they alleged that important mechanisms have not been established to deal with this grave social problem, thereby rendering victims vulnerable to continuous abuse.
One must begin from this truism – that domestic violence, is indeed   the most vicious component of the inter-personal category, for its sheer ferocity and extremely brutal acts of violence, that its numerous victims do experience, often resulting in the ultimate  tragic  consequences of death; or, if fortunate to survive, serious life-long disabilities.
It is pervasive, with its dark, brutal stamp etched across all social classes and ethnicities, in every community, throughout the 10 administrative regions. This and its evil twin, sexual abuse, rank as the most horrendous acts in the calendar of national social threats. Thus one must understand that it is a most serious social negative, since it is not confined to any particular group or locale.  Call it a national epidemic, but one that refuses to go away.
And this is not because those institutions targeted above by APNU, have not been confronting the challenges that domestic violence does present. They have, with even the Police Service offering a much better response than formerly. Of course, one must add, that they deserved most of the criticisms levelled, and will continue to be the recipient of these, until their prompt improves.
Has APNU forgot the numerous initiatives, in the form of public awareness programmes, national discourses, the white zones strategy et al, piloted by the Ministry of Human Services, as it leads the fight against this national monster?  How justified, were these speakers at this press conference, making criticisms against a government that has  always been constant in its many  national admonitions to those responsible for their  many acts of cruelty  to  their wives/companions. It was most shocking, to listen to Granger still seeking to ‘rule’ the honourable Minister of Home Affairs, as not competent to lead his ministry in the battle against domestic violence. Any Guyanese au fait with national issues can testify to this no-nonsense executive, not only condemning this wanton act of cruelty, but also criticising especially his Police Service for not  giving the kind of urgency and action required.
But, the crusade against this national scourge cannot, and must not be the sole responsibility of those services, as mentioned by those APNU spokespersons. It is a national problem that has its roots perhaps beginning in the traditional manner with which women and their role have always been perceived.
Therefore, beginning in the national education system, and continuing with religious and cultural organisations, the workplace, especially within the military and para-military organisations – an entirely new ethos has to be enacted, working in tandem with the specialised agencies for better success in reining in this deadly scourge of domestic violence.
All must be involved, even APNU, Mr. Granger!