ON Monday I wrote an article in which I highlighted the fact that violence against women is approaching dangerous levels about which something has to be done urgently. Little did I know that at the time of writing that there would have been another case of a brazen assault on another woman. I make reference to that husband who attacked his wife with a grass knife and God knows what would have happened if neighbours did not intervene.
I do not know if society is taking these matters with the seriousness they

deserve because it is so common that it seems as though we have become immune to it. A case in point, is where some newspapers have adopted the posture of non-reportage of domestic abuse. They do not bother themselves to publish these stories anymore; it is not worth the effort to even mention cases of domestic violence. With each passing case comes the thought “its just one of those days.” As the saying goes, another one of those days of man abusing woman, nothing new, nothing to worry about. As a consequence, there is no public outcry, no public outrage whatsoever. When society has reached this stage it is really sad indeed.
Violence against women is truly a serious matter because it is a plague that never seems to go away when you look at what’s going on in Guyana. Look at the number of cases we have and you get the appalling picture of what domestic violence is and where we are as a society. It disturbs me greatly when you look at the number of such cases.
It is staggering to say the least that so many cases are in the news, and this goes for what we can account for. What about those that go unreported or those that continue to take place behind closed doors? Sickening! If you look at those cases that are reported you get the true extent as to what domestic violence truly is and the great damage it has caused to society at present and that which is to come.
Oftentimes, children are involved and they are the ones who are poisoned, dysfunctional at best and rendered unfit for life. Therefore, if we are to make any headway or at least put some closure to this malady, something has to be done swiftly to bring it under control.
When you analyse the scourge you realise that there is no cut-and-dry solution to it because the victims of the abuse are reluctant to press charges against the abusers. They report the matter but stop there. They do not go the full distance in seeing that these men are put away. They still want to see him around and this is the real problem. As I said in yesterday’s discussion, this is the crux of the matter, that is, the woman failing to press charges, enduring the abuse until the ultimate takes place. And I do understand where the woman is coming from; I can understand her point of reference. She has become so emotionally scarred that she is now rendered helpless to the abuser. It becomes a mind game or an emotional matter where one’s feelings for the abusive man take precedence over the present violence. Therefore, you cannot totally blame her for acting this way; being the weaker sex, those abusive men are taking psychological advantage of the situation. Whether by his sexual prowess, a slick, sweet-talking tongue or just being a good provider for the home, all of these are mistaken acts of “love” by the woman. However, in all of this it does not negate the fact that he is a brute beast, and a violent abuser.
So, how can we save our mother, sister, aunt or just another woman? We have already seen that our women are not using the channels available for their protection such as securing a restraining order or going ahead and pressing charges. These are available but sadly not used. So what can we do? I say putting in place the right penalties for the crime. No man found guilty of murder against a woman should be allowed to walk the streets again, ever! I was just about to say hang him but that is not going to happen because hanging is technically outlawed in the English-speaking Caribbean. When a man is sentenced to be hanged he is in fact laughing at the justice system. Because if that man stays five years on death row, which he most certainly will, then this is considered cruel and inhumane punishment and he has every right to an appeal and be set free. That is the position with death sentences, something the legal body is not educating the public about. So to sentence a man to be hanged is really a travesty of justice. Therefore our only option left is to use the life-sentencing route and this must be the consecutive sentencing not the concurrent as presently obtains. Having consecutive life sentences will do two things: firstly, act as a strong deterrent for those men who are abusers. Secondly, it will ensure that he cannot roam the streets again to kill another woman. The point is you take someone’s life, your’s should be taken away from you also. Taxpayers would not mind the pain of having to feed him but we would have ensured that he is one less problem dwelling amongst us.
My friend who is a lawyer always says you must use the law to fight the law and this means that the clean-slate law where men get away with murder on the fact that they have a clean record (no charges against him) this must also be changed. Those numerous reports of abuse made by the women must be taken into evidence as to the state of the relationship. I know for a fact that Guyana is a pioneer in the English-speaking Caribbean where the rights of women in common-law relationships are concerned.
When you consider that 50% of the population is living under the common-law structure,then it was only right and legally proper  that something is done to protect the women and children in such relationships. The rest of the Caribbean still holds on to the archaic laws of wife owns all that husband possesses. The Guyana law was changed to common-law spouse has claims after 7 years living with the man. It was a giant step in the way the law was interpreted as it relates to the rights of the reputed wife and how it is viewed.
Other Caribbean nations are now looking at this landmark decision which as I said is very fair and legally binding. It is high time for another first in the domestic violence front where reports made by those women are taken into consideration. At least the number of times those reports were made. This is a sure way we can bring these men in guilty. I rest my case.