Special gender-based violence units manned by trained officers were suggested for the Guyana Police Force, including additional units for outlying areas, when East Bank Demerara residents participated recently in the National Conversation on Gender-based Violence held at the Diamond Secondary School.
It was also recommended that the legal network be used to catch defaulters of child support when they apply for services such as drivers’ licences, said a press release from the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security.
Meanwhile, the National Conversation on Gender-based Violence continues today at 16:00 hrs at the Lichfield Primary School, West Coast Berbice.
At the session on the East Bank Demerara, which included members of the Guyana Police Force among participants, views were expressed by young and old from a range of communities, including long Creek, Kuru Kuru, La Harmonie, Zeelugt, Republic Park, Grove, Farm, Herstelling, Diamond and Soesdyke, the release noted.
The discussions which were facilitated by Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security Rev. Patrick Findlay, Rev. Pat Bisnauth and Beverley Braithwaite-Chan raised issues of concern in relation to the care and protection of the elderly, children and young people.
Some of the solutions presented included compulsory pre-marital counselling and the formation of community support groups with the ability to offer counseling and capacity-building services for males and females.
It was noted also that alcoholism, fear of the abuser and indecisiveness of the victim in pressing charges serve to perpetuate domestic violence.
The general consensus was that the services provided by the ministry, though helpful, are slow and can be made more efficient with an increase in the number of welfare and probation officers, the release concluded.
