Dear Editor,
The Harris Politikles cartoon in the Stabroek News Edition of Friday, May 14 is the last thing one wishes to see in our situation of rampant violence against women, on which this paper had been moved to editorialise only the day before. If Harris’ intent was to satirise the Stabroek News editorial of 13 May or to mock the defence of abusive behaviour, his cartoon fell short of acceptable commentary and was short on wit and humour. Joking about a subject which continues to cost women life and limb is beyond insensitive.
There is a pandemic of violence against women and gender-based violence in Guyana and this crisis has been exacerbated during COVID. Femicide (the murder of women) experiencing domestic violence and rape have increased, and in recent UNWomen Studies, Guyana is shown to have the highest rate of domestic violence/intimate partner violence in the Caribbean, with surveys carried out indicating that one out of every two Guyanese women experience such violence.
Shockingly, the cartoon appears to advocate perpetrating violence against women voiced by two drunk men – adding insult to injury.
Perhaps your editorial board might benefit from applying a sober gender lens in the future.
Yours faithfully,
Karen de Souza
Vanda Radzik
Vidyaratha Kissoon
Ayo Dalgety-Dean
Josephine Whitehead & Danuta
Radzik – Help & Shelter
Red Thread
Women & Gender Equality
Commission (WGEC)
