Ramkissoon Ramsaywack,
pandit
`I think that with all these abuses that are happening to the children we need to keep the perpetrators religiously occupied. We as leaders need to teach them about the scriptures and get them to be aware that these acts are wrong. They have to understand that they cannot abuse these young children. These men have to protect the children and see that they go on the right track. They are supposed to advise them and see that they are moulded in the right manner. As long as they commit the offence they should be punished, not spared.’
Colleen August, housewife
`It is not right at all for fathers, stepfathers or any man to molest the young children. I think that the best thing is that if the mothers can’t keep the children government should build a home where they can go and be protected. The parents should support them though. The hurtful part is that these men who molest these children are the ones who are supposed to protect them. It is such a shame; how can they face these children after they commit such nasty acts on them. I think the men should go through the punishment; don’t spare them because if they were abused they would know how these children are feeling. They destroy these children’s whole mental state, whether it is nursery that they start abusing them from or older. Some of these children count themselves valueless and they end up on the streets.’
Roy Mc Pherson, farmer
`It is definitely wrong what these men are doing and all I can say is that the police should step up their campaign more against it. These men need to be educated about their actions. They should also face the full brunt of the law because it doesn’t seem like they care that they are destroying these children. I have my beautiful girl children and at least I wouldn’t like anyone of them to meet my daughters on the road and even hold their hands. If that happens I may want to take the law into my own hands.’
Mohini Munroe, vendor
`I have a relative who was abused by her stepfather since she was 10 years old. The officer from the Child Care and Protection Agency is checking on the case and said it should have been before the court already. But I don’t know what the police are doing so long. The girl is now living with her father and he plans to take the story further.
I cannot understand how some mothers would know about the abuse and they cannot say anything about it. They probably depend on the men for money. These men should be punished; they cannot abuse innocent children like that and get off. Persons in society should not stigmatize these girls. They should treat them with love and respect and I believe that with counseling they can cope with their plight.’
Paul Ramcharran, farmer
`I believe that the law should be harsh against all men who molest little children. It is nonsense what is happening and it’s about time something is done to put a stop to it. You find that in some cases these girls who are abused become reckless as if they don’t have any value anymore. That happens too because their parents are not setting proper example and children lose respect for them.’
Deokalie Rambarran, vendor
`I don’t know what is happening in society today. Many of these men are molesting their daughters and even their sons and that is very bad. The girls are not even comfortable in their own homes. Look in the case of a 16-year-old girl, her stepfather was molesting her and she ran away from home with a boy. That is totally wrong and men like that should be punished. They have to look at these children as their own and take care of them. How can these children look up to them for advice and have respect for them?’
Mark Vossey, cane harvester
`What I find is that when some of these underage girls go out with these men they penalize the men alone. But I think the girls should be punished too and things would change. I feel even if the men are jailed these girls would still go out and do nonsense. It is worse when these men who are supposed to
look after their young daughters or stepdaughters end up raping them.’
Sukhdeo, farmer
`I think that they should jail these men who molest their own daughters or close relatives. Let me tell you point blank that the parents have a lot to do with what happens to their children. The situation is not nice at all where parents allow children to buy blues [porn videos] and watch them. Parents need to monitor their children. Many of these children who leave home to go to school would walk with changing clothes and go to hotels with older men. The situation is bad but there are a lot of instances where some men would take advantage of their own daughters. They should inflict harsh penalties on these men
so others can see and they would not do the same.’
Jinelda Isaacs, housewife
`That is totally wrong what these men are doing to these innocent little children especially the girls. I believe they should look for the women their own age and leave the children alone. But some of them probably use drugs and too much alcohol and they do not care what they are doing. The police should take action against them. That is real sad but we should remember that the Bible says these things must come to pass before the scripture is fulfilled. I feel there are many more to come; this is just the beginning. But even so, they still have to be penalized and should not get away with it. Some of them who have money would pay
and get off and that is not supposed to happen. But they say God is the final judge.’
Regina Richmond, seamstress
`These men need to be more educated and there should be more programmes in the community to deal with the situation. The abuse is getting worse every day. The youths have the understanding but when it happens to the little children especially from under 10 to two years it is very sad. These things are happening for too long and they need to lock these men away for a very long time. I believe that they should counsel them while they are in prison so that when they come out they can be reformed and live a different life. They can even offer
advice to others not to commit those acts.’
