– almost half are from Region Four this year

SOME 15 women have lost their lives through domestic violence in Guyana during the period January 31 to August 31 this year, with seven of those women coming from Region Four.

This is according to Region Four Chairman Genevieve Allen, who was on Sunday addressing a march and rally against domestic violence, organised by the Ministry of Social Protection and the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

Allen told a well-attended gathering at the Lusignan Community Centre ground, that based on statistics from the Probation and Welfare Department, while there were 48 male victims; female victims remain the highest at 154.

“The numerous deaths of our loved ones are psychologically affecting our children. Within these homes, families are destroyed and many women live in fear for their safety and that of their children. Even though men are being abused by women, the percentage of women experiencing abuse by men is significantly higher. Children who witness the abuse often live in fear and, some of them may copy and perpetrate abuse towards other family members of the home and even in our schools,” Allen said.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) during the period January 1 to March 31, dealt with 484 cases, a 100 per cent increase in the corresponding period. Notably, 81 of those cases were recorded in C Division, representing a 16 per cent increase.

During the march, participants held placards, chanting throughout the journey from the Beterverwagting Community Centre Ground to the Lusignan Community Centre, that no form of domestic violence would be tolerated irrespective of who the perpetrators are.
Region Four, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Pauline Lucas said that everyone has a role to play in ending domestic violence.

VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM
“We realise that this is a very serious problem within our society, and that is why we at the RDC jumped on board immediately so that we can play our part,” REO Lucas said, noting that nothing but a zero-tolerance approach to domestic violence must be accepted.

“Almost every day when you read the newspapers now you are hearing about some woman who have been murdered or abused, and there are men too who are at the receiving end of domestic violence. However, several of the men suffer in silence because they are reluctant or ashamed to speak out. Therefore, it’s time that we come together to address domestic violence in an aggressive and consistent way. This walk is to demonstrate that together with one voice we can stop domestic violence,” Lucas said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police within `C’ Division, Ravindra Stanley, said the Guyana Police Force continues to upgrade and enhance the various police stations across the country to better handle cases of domestic violence.

“The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has a zero tolerance to domestic violence, and I would like to repeat it so that persons are assured, that we do not in no way entertain or condone domestic violence,” Stanley said.

He noted that contrary to perception, the GPF does not settle cases of domestic violence but channels them to the court.

“We, within the GPF, take domestic violence reports seriously and in almost every police station there is a domestic violence room where we take statements and conduct interviews with domestic violence victims, as we place a very high degree of confidentiality on domestic violence matters. We do not settle any domestic violence matters, therefore we would refer the matters to either the court or the probation department for appropriate action,” the senior policeman said.