THE Guyanese Women in Development (GUYWID) on Thursday afternoon
staged a walk to raise awareness of domestic violence in East Berbice, Corentyne and the country at large.

The group, which has always been an advocate for women rights in the East Berbice area, said the walk was organised following the recent gruesome murder of Omawattie Gill, a victim of domestic violence.
The aim was to help raise awareness, especially among victims of
domestic abuse, with the aim to get them help.

The walk commenced at Dr. Tulsi Street, Williamsburg, from where Gill
was ran over by a car and brutally stabbed and chopped by her
husband. The walk ended in front of the Spready’s Supermarket,
Port Mourant, where a few victims shared their stories.

Among those who spoke was the mother of Gill, Tejwattie Jhinkoo, who
advised women to “let the first incident be the last one”.

In an emotional plea, she appealed to women to not make the same
mistake her daughter made by keeping quiet.

“Let the first incident be the last one. Don’t give them another
chance because they would become more brave and want to do it again
and again, and each time it would be worse until they kill you. Walk
away from the first day they hit you or insult because there won’t be
another chance,” she told the Guyana Chronicle.

GUYWID member Babita Sohan said the walk was not to point fingers as men, women and children have all lost their lives due to senseless actions of abusers.
She noted that the organization, for the past 20 years, has been advocating and fighting for victims but it appears the situation is getting worse.
Sohan said GUYWID intends to host several other walks in different communities. The aim is to network with various individuals and help form groups in each community that they can work with to help weed out domestic violence.

Among those who joined the walk were several youth groups, staff of
the Port Mourant Hospital, members from the religious community,
residents and the family of Gill. Some members carried placards with messages
calling for an end to domestic violence and other form of abuse.