Dear Editor,
The report in the Stabroek News on May 6, 2008 of the inability of the police to support Sheneiza Khan is an indictment of the police response to domestic violence. The Guyana Police Force has benefited from support from international donor agencies and NGOs to provide training to the police officers in domestic violence response. The GPF has also institutionalised aspects of this training.
However, what has been lacking, is a clear policy from the GPF on how police will deal with matters of domestic violence.
Help & Shelter and Red Thread, in their joint submission to the Disciplined Services Commission (available from http://www.sdnp.org.gy/hands/?q=node/16) had asked that Domestic Violence Units be set up. These units would be staffed by police who are not only trained, but who have an interest and understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence.
The public should look forward to a response from the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Home Affairs as to what steps would be taken so that police inaction would not contribute to more suffering and deaths of the women and men who are in abusive relationships.
Yours faithfully
Vidyaratha Kissoon
