Dear Editor,
As the world celebrated the International Day of Women, in Guyana violence continues to be committed on women and girls with impunity. Often these poor women and girls receive little or no protection from the judicial system. Guyana is in a place of shame as it relates to the way poor women are treated in the society. Young girls are being raped too often without widespread societal outrage.
The Guyana Human Rights Association reported in the March 8th issue of Stabroek News that 69 percent of the victims of sexual violence are girls aged 16 and younger. Amerindian girls are the most vulnerable. The US government warns that the trafficking in women as sex slaves is on the increase in Guyana.
An article in the Chronicle Newspaper captioned, ‘Suspect trio in schoolgirl fondling on bail,’ reported that a young girl who attends Cotton Field Secondary School was drugged and fondled by three men. The article went on to state that the mother of this young helpless victim did not know that the case had reached the courts. Yet these three men who allegedly committed this most shameful act on this young woman have been released on bail. Can there be any greater injustice. The fact that drugging and raping of young school girls have been in news in Guyana on several occasions is enough for any magistrate or judge to remand these three men to prison. Rape like murder is the most heinous criminal act committed against society, and therefore should not be a bailable offense.
It should be said in no uncertain terms that the act of rape is the most inhuman act a person can commit upon another person.
When it is committed on a child, the person who commits such an act becomes the filthiest animal to have existed, and deserves to be imprisoned for life. Enough is enough, the society and the judicial system must offer more protection to these victims of this most horrendous crime.
The good measure of a society is the way it treats the most vulnerable in the society.
There is a debate going on in the society which argues that race matters. I would like to ask, does justice matter. Why are not communities organizing against the dysfunctional judicial system.
Yours faithfully,
Dennis Wiggins
