-says has zero tolerance position
For this year, up to last week Monday, the police received 2,488 reports of domestic violence resulting in 694 cases being made out and 530 persons were warned at the request of those reporting the incidents.
The police released the statistics last night in defence of actions which the Force took to combat domestic violence. No comparison to last year’s figure was provided. The law enforcement agency pointed out that it has put in place institutional structures/mechanisms at its Headquarters, Divisional, Sub Divisional and Station levels to ensure appropriate responses to reports of domestic violence. It said that as far as practicable reports of domestic violence made at stations are being dealt with in areas that afford privacy and confidentiality.
In a statement, the GPF noted too that a Central Domestic Violence Unit has been established at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters with overall responsibility for monitoring the Domestic Violence Desk within the Divisions and Sub-Divisions in terms of implementation of the relevant Force policies and procedures and the outcome of reports and cases before the court.
The Force will continue to maintain its vigilance in these matters and take the appropriate action where necessary, the police asserted.
In responding to an editorial in the Guyana Times, which referred to the murder of La Jalousie woman, Omwattie Kallicharran and which stated that the case “revealed a situation where reports made to the police against the perpetrator did not produce the results expected”, the police said that the article made a spurious claim that “the police have shown little understanding of the law they are mandated to uphold, which is why they cannot adequately protect citizens” and refuted the report. The police said that the article contained “a number of spurious assertions but has neither sought to acquire and/or display any information on the knowledge of police operations.”
“This continuous ‘beating up’ of the Police Force on matters without any evidence begs the question of what is the motive. The Police Force considers this type of poor journalism unmistakably designed to frustrate the relentless efforts of its ranks to enforce the laws and to sully its image and reputation”, the police stated.
It said that the law enforcement officials have been exhibiting ‘zero tolerance’ on both the issue of noise nuisance and domestic violence “but, to a great extent, our efforts at enforcement are being stymied by the reluctance of persons to follow through on the matters after making their initial reports to the police.”
The statement noted that police responded positively to the “one report” Kallicharran had made against her former reputed husband and in which she had requested that a warning be given. “On September 30, 2008, Omattie Kallicharran had reported to the police at Den Amstel Police Station that it is a habit of Vishnu Datt (her former reputed husband) to be calling on her telephone and abusing her and that sometimes he would stop at her residence and abuse her. She requested that he be warned by the police and this was subsequently done. There is no record of any other report made by Omattie Kallicharran against Vishnu Datt”, the statement said.
It went on to point out the case of Krishundai Singh of Cornelia Ida, WCD, who was fatally stabbed by her reputed husband on June 12. On May 26 she had made a report of assault against him to the police and he was arrested and charged. She later appeared in court and requested no further action against him and he was placed on a bond to keep the peace for two years, the police said.
It said that over a number of years, the GPF has pursued an aggressive policy of training for its members in Domestic Violence in view of its serious effect on society, and has adopted a zero tolerance approach aimed at taking the appropriate action against all perpetrators.
“This training has now become institutionalized, forming part of the curriculum for recruits at the Felix Austin Police College and deals with the dynamics and implications of domestic violence and the Force’s policy and procedures for responding to reports of domestic violence”, the statement asserted. It said that in the effective conduct of its role and responsibility under the Domestic Violence Act of 1996, the GPF is networking and collaborating with several governmental and non-governmental organizations on the issue of domestic violence inclusive of Help and Shelter, Red Thread and the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security with a number of persons being referred specifically with a view to receive counselling.
“With the Force’s zero tolerance policy, no police rank can opt to “settle” any matter involving domestic violence, but must take the appropriate actions leading to the matter being placed before the court”, it stated.
A number of women have been murdered in domestic violence incidents this year. Earlier this month, less than a week after being stabbed repeatedly, battered and doused with kerosene by her former lover Sharmin McKay, of Bachelor’s Adventure (Bare Root), died at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Her attacker, Marlon Braithwaite has since been charged with her murder. During this month too Singh and Kallicharran were killed. Kallicharran was stabbed to death by her former reputed husband, Vishnudat Tajram, who later died after ingesting poison while Singh was dealt one fatal stab wound to the left side chest allegedly by her former reputed husband Ganesh Narine, who has since been charged with her murder.
There were others. Last month, Eunice Charlie, 55, of Waramit Farming Area, Awaruwaunau Village, South Rupununi and 31-year-old Gertude Edwards of Ithaca were both murdered, allegedly by their respective partners. On March 31, Pamela Mangru, 39, was stabbed three times in the throat and slashed about her body. She subsequently bled to death. Her alleged attacker and reputed husband Devon Limerick has since been charged with her murder. On March 12, Savitrie Arjune of Lot 382 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, was stabbed to death by her former reputed husband. He escaped and is still to be apprehended. In February, Deborah Allen, 38, of Port Kaituma, North West District, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital after being chopped by her reputed husband. Her teenaged daughter was chopped across the face and spent several days in the Georgetown Hospital.
That same day, two women, Nekecia Rouse, 25, and her sister-in-law, Alexis George, 18, were slashed to death in New Amsterdam. Their attacker is still being sought