Dear Editor,
Not so long ago, a female colleague asked me whether I had any idea about why there is an upsurge in spousal abuse and crime against women. In the absence of empirical evidence, I cautiously suggested that for a multiplicity of reasons, couples may be unevenly yoked.
The truth be told, I could not have offered an informed response because the data and or information were just not available.
For my part, I wondered and pondered the reason for the upsurge in ‘sex crimes’ in our society, in which in some instances the culprits and victims alike, are teenagers.
I am indeed troubled by the high incidence of sexual offences committed by adults on teenagers , youths and infants. Hardly a day passes without the media reporting on a case of carnal knowledge being committed on a youth or teenager.
For the month of November alone at least ten stories of sex crimes in which infants and teenagers were the victims were reported in the print media. Those ten stories accounted for 18 victims 15 of whom were between the ages six and 15.
These are very frightening statistics, but when the perpetrator happens to be a youth or a teenager, alarm bells begin to ring.
It was with a sinking heart that I read of the rape and murder of little Sade Stoby of Mocha and I must say that I have not grieved for such a victim since the demise of Nurse Zammit in the 1970s. What is most distressing is the fact that the alleged perpetrators of in the Sade’s case are teenagers.
On learning of such incidents, it is not unusual for adults to exclaim and wonder about the driving force behind a young mind to commit such an act. We often wonder from where did the perpetrator get the idea.
At the national level, we are aware that a serious problem exists and as exemplified by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, in its ‘Stamp It Out’ programme steps are being taken to rid the Republic of this scourge. For that the ministry is to be commended, but there is one more thing which needs to be done.
During the days when the cinema was one of the main sources of entertainment, we had a Board of Censors which filtered movies so that only morally acceptable language and scenes were transmitted to the public. I believe that the thinking back then was that immoral scenes and language were capable of corrupting the mind, and if they were selectively eliminated the society would be less corrupt.
Be that as it may, it seems to me, that with the collapse of our cinema industry and the emergence of the DVD culture, not only has the board disappeared, but the laws which seek to uphold moral values are now being breached with impunity.
I am of the candid view that Section 351 of our Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01 prohibits the public exhibition of pornographic material for sale, yet they are being vended on streets of Georgetown where children of all ages are allowed to linger and view the disgusting images on the cover jackets.
I don’t know whether access to such material can have any influence on the teenaged mind to become sexually involved voluntarily and criminally, but I certainly entertain the view that a breach of the law is being occasioned by the public exhibition for sale of pornographic DVDs. Further, if we are really serious about ‘Stamping Out’ sex crimes, then we need to ensure that the ‘offences against morality’ are not committed.
I have noticed that since the police have successfully prosecuted a businessman for possession of firecrackers, the explosive devices have disappeared from the markets and by extension the atmosphere. I am of the opinion that if we were to successfully prosecute a vendor for the exhibition of pornographic DVDs for sale they would likewise disappear from the pavements and even the stores. I think that this is a time for action.
Yours faithfully,
Francis Carryl
