At anger management conference…
MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manickchand said, last Friday, that, if a man interferes with a minor no legal sanction can now be imposed on the accused.

She said, even if the matter is reported to the Police, much cannot be done because the law on the subject is anachronistic.

Manickchand offered the explanation when alluding to the allegation against Press Liaison Officer to the President, Mr. Kwame McCoy at a con-day conference on anger management at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.

She said people should stop politicising the McCoy controversy and rally for the passage of the Sexual Offences Bill which is before Parliament.

Manickchand also mentioned that a bill seeking to reform the divorce laws is before the House, as well, seeking to pave the way for a peaceful and mutually beneficial parting.

Speaking at the forum organised by Men Empowerment Network (MEN), she said, while cases of men abusing women are well known and widely condemned, those involving women as the perpetrators and men as the victims often go unnoticed.

Manickchand recognised the inconsistency at the event themed ‘Changing the culture of abuse and violence’, attended by scores of men, among them being those she called “loose screws”, meaning bad tempered, religious leaders, parliamentarians and social workers.

SUFFERINGS
She sympathised with the male victims, saying she is aware of their sufferings.

Manickchand pointed out that many women psychologically abuse their husbands on a daily basis but the harassment is not known because it does not result in death, much unlike some men who beat the life out of their women.

But she acknowledged that the abuse of men by their women affects their mental performance at the workplace and is a cost to the country.

Manickchand suggested that, like the fora to persuade men to stop being abusive to their women and children, similar discussions have to be held with women to change their negative behaviour.

She said the Government remains committed to working with men and women to make Guyana violence free.

Manickchand reiterated Government’s support to eradicate violence against women and children and praised the MEN organisation, one of the organisers of the that forum, for its work in this area.

She said passage of the Domestic Violence Act is testimony of Government’s determination to end the societal scourge but admitted that the legislation is not being used effectively.

Manickchand expressed the view that the Law Courts and the Police have to do more in this regard.

She explained that the wide ranging Domestic Violence Act allows, among other things, for women to approach the Courts for help and the Government has expanded legal aid services throughout the country to assist those who cannot afford to hire a lawyer.

Manickchand said more legislation is before the National Assembly to address the problem and the Sexual Offences Bill is included.

ROLE
MEN Chairman, Reverend Kwame Gilbert said the role of his organisation is to work with men to change their negative behaviour towards their women and children but it would also look at including women as they, too, are aggressors.

He said anger is not always negative because it can be both constructive and destructive.

Gilbert said the constructive is positive as it includes correcting an injustice but the destructive is unpleasant, self-serving and harmful.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean and Guyana Assistant Representative, Ms. Patrice La Fleur said men should strive to understand the issues that affect them, be exemplary in their action and view themselves as agents of change.

She posited that older men need to meet and talk with boys, offer guidance and leadership to empower them to stay away from drugs, gangs, crime and other illicit activities.

La Fleur said men are the anchors of their family and must endeavour to satisfy their roles as husbands, fathers, providers and emphasised that, if they allow their anchors to be lifted, their families will go adrift.

She maintained, though, that issues of boys’ underachievement and their involvement in crime, drugs and gangs have to be addressed in order to make them better persons in society.

During the five-hour discourse, Dominion House Pastor, Mr. Timothy King made a presentation on anger management while his colleague from Vreed-en-Hoop Wesleyan Church, Mr. Marlon Hestick spoke on non-violent communication.

The gathering also participated in a lively discussion and both religious leaders offered suggestions to help alleviate concerns.