INSTEAD of competing for the Linden Town Week 2018 crown, the delegates held hands together and participated in a ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’ march in an effort to raise awareness of the ills surrounding violence against women and children and how society can play a role in alleviating this social phenomenon.
The delegates were joined by Mayor of Linden Waneka Arindell, Municipal Councillors, representatives from the Ministry of Social Protection, youth groups, women’s organisations and other stakeholders in the mining town of Linden.
The procession marched from the Bayroc Community Centre Ground on the Wismar shore to the Linden/Georgetown bus park in Mackenzie, where onlookers enjoyed a raising-awareness programme and the delegates were all crowned as ambassadors against violence on women in Linden.
Mayor of Linden Waneka Arindell, while crowning the delegates, encouraged Lindeners to stand together and to look out for women and children.
“Let us stand together as a town of Linden, let us stand against violence in all forms, women speak up, speak out, you have a right to take care of yourself and no one is expected to disrespect you,” Arindell said.
She revealed that the LMTC is currently working on a safe home for women, while continuing to advocate for the law to play its role in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The delegates have started a “fix her crown” initiative, which seeks to lend support to persons experiencing any form of abuse. Speaking on behalf of the Muslims was Brother Jafar Muhammad, who said the failure of men to love and protect women, stems from lack of spirituality, morality and social life. Muhammad advocated for stricter laws to be enacted in the judicial system to bring the perpetrators of sexual abuse against women speedily to justice.
“In Islam, you won’t get a trial, they would take your neck, I hope that that day would come when I can say, bring me the head of the man that rape a woman, whoever is in authority we have to push for this,” Muhammad exclaimed.
A man who disrespects a woman Jafar said, disrespects an entire nation.
Councillor Nikisa Noel posited that men were created as the head and leaders of women and not their abusers and therefore should act the role correctly.
“A man should love his wife as Christ loved the church, are you going to die for me or are you going to hurt me, call me names, hit me and take my dignity… tonight women, arise, we will stand together against every form of violence against our women and our girls” Noel encouraged.
A representative from the Ministry of Social Protection revealed that the ministry over the last three years has implemented several programmes to deal with violence against women and many strides were achieved since then. The matter of violence, he said, cannot be one-sided and a holistic approach needs to be taken, since men are also being abused in society. He also encouraged women to do not stay in abusive relationships, since it can end with their death.
The decision to cancel the LTW pageant came after allegations of sexual misconduct by a popular Linden businessman on a delegate seeking sponsorship surfaced. The incident allegedly occurred at the businessman’s home on March 3, 2018. Commander of ‘E’ Division, Anthony Vanderhyden, told this publication on Sunday that the director of public prosecutions has advised that no charges should be laid against the businessman.
