Dear Editor
The failure of the Guyana Police Force/Service and the other authorities to provide assistance to a 14-year-old victim of rape is an example of the government’s failure to reform the police force to ensure that victims of sexual violence could get justice.
It is ironic that the child born in the era of democracy just before the 47th Anniversary of Independence is told she cannot be helped because the systems are not in place. “No female police officer available” is often heard by many victims of sexual violence, and yet, the Guyana Police Force has done little to find solutions to the dilemma.
There is a great myth that the police need to be trained more. Actually one of the interesting things about much of the Guyana justice sector is that training is always there, but there is no accountability mechanism in place, and the lack of leadership in providing the clear and consistent policy direction often results in many trained persons who leave the training room and do not perform as necessary.
The Disciplined Services Commission of Inquiry had heard submissions requesting the setting up of Special Victims Units, staffed by police who were not only trained, but who also demonstrated the necessary qualities and interest required to deal with victims of sexual and intimate partner violence. There have been many excuses why these units have not been set up and so it is that the justice system continues to further abuse victims.
Journalists might want to go and find the two police on duty at Turkeyen that Thursday night to hear their stories. Were they bored that night? What were their experiences of abuse as children? Do they know other children who survived rape and other forms of abuse? What solutions do they have to the ‘no female police officer’ problem? Do they think that children who are abused look for it? Did they go through the training programmes which the government talks about every time they go to Geneva to defend their abysmal record on violence against children? What was the policewoman thinking about when she saw the 14-year-old? What happened at the GPHC really? Is that policewoman herself a survivor of abuse or violence, or close to someone who is?
Did these police have to deal with other cases involving big ones who rape children? Do they have faith in the justice system? Do they understand why female officers have to go with the victims? Do they like the assumption that male police officers are considered potential rapists and therefore might pose further threats to victims of rape? Do they have children? What would they do if someone raped their children?
Perhaps in answering these questions, we might get somewhere to understanding what needs to be done to ensure that children could have faith in the justice system.
Yours faithfully.
Vidyaratha Kissoon
