THE tragic death of Atiya Solomon at the hands of her estranged husband in Georgetown on Tuesday should be a moment that pushes Guyana to take stronger action against its domestic violence crisis.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali’s poignant words, “When families break, society bleeds,” highlight the harsh reality that this nation can no longer overlook.
Atiya’s murder was preventable. There had been multiple prior shooting incidents at her home involving the same perpetrator. There was a clear pattern of escalating violence, along with obvious warning signs known to precede fatal attacks.

Her 10-year-old son, now struggling for his life in the hospital, bears the physical and emotional scars of this malady.
President Ali is right to say that Guyana cannot achieve true prosperity while women, children and families experience various forms of violence.

The government’s initiatives, including the Family Violence Act 2024, the 914 hotline, panic button systems, and Hope and Justice Centres, are important first steps in addressing this issue.
The reported 33 per cent reduction in domestic violence homicides offers some hope. However, good intentions mean little without strict enforcement and community responsibility.
The most glaring issue with our current approach is that women like Atiya keep dying after seeking help.

When survivors have to turn to social media to plead for protection because police ignore their pleas, when officers tell victims they “must have enjoyed the licks,” and when multiple shooting incidents fail to prompt real intervention, we fail at the most basic level.

President Ali’s call for national commitment lacks weight unless it includes real consequences for institutional failures. Every police officer who ignores domestic violence reports must face disciplinary action.

Every magistrate who issues inadequate protection orders must be held accountable. Every community leader who stays silent while others suffer must confront their role in this problem.
The President is correct that this requires “every single one of us.” Guyana’s domestic violence crisis needs more than government programmes; it requires a cultural shift that rejects the acceptance of violence and embraces the idea that women deserve to live without fear. Atiya Solomon’s death must not be in vain. The time for half-measures is over.