—renews call for stronger family support after Charlotte Street tragedy

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has stressed the critical importance of preserving families in the wake of Tuesday’s murder-suicide on Charlotte Street, Georgetown, which claimed the life of Teekadai Atiya Rambachan-Solomon and left her 10-year-old son seriously injured.

In a statement issued shortly after the incident, President Ali said he was “deeply distressed and saddened” by the events, adding that the tragedy underscored the urgent need to safeguard the family unit as the foundation of society.

“The family remains the basic cell of human society, and its preservation is essential to our nation’s well-being. When families break, society bleeds. But when families thrive, a nation stands tall,” the President explained.

He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening support systems for households, noting that families must be given the resources to be nurtured, to grow stronger, and to flourish.

The President Statement came hours after 36-year-old ExxonMobil employee Teekadai was gunned down by her estranged husband, Alroy Solomon, outside the yard of her residence.

The couple’s 10-year-old son was also shot but survived and remains hospitalised in serious condition.

According to eyewitnesses, multiple gunshots were heard around 11:30 hrs on Tuesday. Teekadai collapsed near the entrance of the property, while her injured son was found nearby.

Police later discovered Solomon’s body at the back of the yard with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Neighbours told reporters that the woman had recently moved into the area after a series of personal hardships, including the loss of the couple’s home to a fire and a hit-and-run accident that left her with a broken arm.

They also disclosed that there were at least two previous shooting incidents at the Charlotte Street residence, suspected to have involved the estranged husband.

The murder-suicide comes against the backdrop of rising domestic violence cases in Guyana and across the Caribbean, where advocates have been calling for stronger protections for women and children.

Rights groups have repeatedly emphasised that domestic abuse, left unchecked, destabilises families and by extension weakens the social fabric.

President Ali, in extending condolences to the grieving relatives and wishing the young boy a full recovery, reiterated that his administration remains committed to tackling these challenges head-on, ensuring that families in crisis are given the support they need.

Under President Ali, the government are taking several proactive measures to combat domestic violence.

They are rolling out a digital “panic button” system that domestic violence victims can use to quickly alert security agencies for emergency assistance, connected to a central database for immediate response.

This initiative is part of a broader national-scale strategy to address domestic violence and strengthen protection for women and vulnerable groups.

Additionally, the government has launched the iMatter app, which provides direct access to a domestic abuse hotline, educational resources, and support services.

They also operate a 24-hour toll-free hotline (914) for victims to report abuse and access help. There are expanded and upgraded domestic violence shelters, with plans for new shelters in other regions.

The government has passed the Family Violence Act 2024 and is training police officers and prosecutors to effectively enforce the legislation through dedicated programmes like P.A.T.R.O.L. School-based awareness campaigns and community training aim to equip people with knowledge on domestic violence prevention and support.

The Hope and Justice Centre concept offers victims a one-stop centre for comprehensive services including counselling and legal aid.