SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, has noted with concern that, in Guyana, the sentencing of offenders who commit violence on women is ‘woefully inadequate’ (Guyana Chronicle, March 17th, 2011). Calling for longer periods of imprisonment, Mr. Ramkarran strongly expressed the view that the time has come when women should speak up about the types of sentencing our male-dominated judiciary institutes against not only men who do violence against women, but all people who do violence in our country.   

The Speaker made this observation on Wednesday last.

Why only on Wednesday, when the speaker of the National Assembly was there for umpteen years?

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out the lousy sentencing guidelines on criminals in Guyana.

The entire world’s peoples knew that men rule the roost in every country.

The two cases Mr. Ramkarran cites are just a tip of the iceberg, one in Guyana and the other in the United States.

Enquiring minds the world over want to know what is a plea to a lesser charge of manslaughter in order to gain a lighter sentence?

There should be no such thing as a ‘plea deal’ or what is termed’ manslaughter’. Murder is murder; simple as one two three.

The male dominated judiciary does not have anything to do with that. Their job is to follow rules and sentencing guidelines.

It’s lawmakers who must make or change the laws to have real teeth so criminals of all type could be put behind bars for a long time.

Even the common street criminals called ‘pick pockets’ or ‘choke-and-rob’ laugh at the justice system and make rings around it.

Criminals know the laws even more than law-abiding citizens, criminals know the revolving doors of the justice system whereby they do their time only to be out in short order to go right back to their criminal activities, once caught.

Do law makers not know that innocent, law abiding citizens are not even safe in the sanctity of their own homes much less on the streets?
Imagine fear and terror that go through every fibre of your being when you are in your home, gun men burst in and place your family and you to lie face down on the floor then proceed to rob you.

Do law makers not know the fear and terror one feels when walking down the streets peacefully going about your business only to be confronted by a street mugger (choke & rob) who will take everything you have on your person that is of value?

Criminals know they can do it and get away with it and only if caught they know how the justice system works in their favour, where they get very light sentences only to be out in short order to carry out their nefarious activities yet again.

Do law makers not know the terrifying fear or terror one feels after these criminal acts are perpetrated on them?

Law makers should ask those that are robbed, beaten and maimed for their personal belongings how terrorized they are after these heinous acts of terror are carried out on them.

Many will tell law makers of fear they feel of going back into their very own homes and walking the streets.

Even drug mules laugh at the law because, once caught, they know it’s a four-year sentence.

How can any society function when criminals make a mockery of the laws that are on the law books.

Judges and magistrates can only follow the laws and sentencing guidelines which can only be changed by law makers.

Society  not only have to live in fear or terror of criminals but from law makers as well.
From the common pick-pocket (choke & robber) to home invaders to murderers must be tried as terrorists too.

I wish law makers have the guts to make and change laws where Guyana would be better a place where peace-loving, law-abiding citizens can walk the streets without being molested by street thugs and where every citizen can feel safe in the sanctity of their homes.