Dear Editor,
It is unfortunate that, in 2014, a senior officer of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) made a statement which suggested a correlation between the dress of females and rape. While a release from the organization intimated that the comments were taken out of context, there is no context in which such a perspective could be appropriate. An apology has been offered. Some will accept that apology. Maybe all concerned will. The call for training has again been sounded. In 1999, 18 members of the organization completed a training of trainers course on Domestic Violence conducted at the Felix Austin Police College (FAPC). In 2000, some of these and others were trained as trainers on Domestic Violence in Trinidad and Jamaica under a project sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank and the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police; this was implemented by the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action. Of note is that Derrick Josiah, the most knowledgeable and committed officer who completed the first course, served as a trainer in the regional course. In 2006, another group of 16 trainers was trained. Yet another group of 25 trainers participated in a course in 2013. Training is not an end in itself. It has to lead to action which allows what is learnt to be imparted to others, this being done in a systematic manner. Following participation of the GPF in the Women’s Rights Campaign beginning in 1992, 1-day then 2-day “courses” were offered at the FAPC as well as the divisions. Once the need for a more rigorous approach was recognized, an 8-unit curriculum was prepared. The intention was that this course would be compulsory for all recruits and would be offered to participants in all courses of a minimum of 5 days offered by the FAPC. In addition, a training database was designed to enable administrators to determine who under their command had been appropriately trained as well as to facilitate training for those who had not. The system has been observed in the breach. In 2005, a proposal was crafted for the establishment of Domestic Violence Units throughout the GPF. This is yet to be finalized. The desired level of performance by members of the GPF with respect to their response to gender-based violence will be attained when the administration makes this a priority. Not only must the administration see training as critical, but also act on the fact that some of its ranks are victims/survivors of gender-based violence as well as perpetrators. In this respect, members of the organization who are victims/survivors need to have access to legal as well as psychosocial services. Those who are perpetrators must be subject to the relevant Laws of Guyana, without fear or favour.
Yours faithfully,
Janice M Jackson
