A story appeared in the news this week that a social media personality is being accused of drugging and raping a young man. Unfortunately, this young man is no longer in the land of the living by way of suicide. There is a universal rule that people are innocent until proven guilty but often, the public tries, convicts and sentences an accused before they have even faced the law. And, too often these same people never actually face the law. So, though guilty based on public opinion and often also guilty based on the evidence, they continue to live their lives without ever being indicted. This happens too often in Guyana. We see it with murders, gender-based violence and sexual assaults.
According to the young man’s aunt, the young man was on his way home when he was called by the social media personality to a studio to rehearse a song. After the rehearsal the now dead young man asked the social media personality for a glass of water. It is alleged that drugs were put into the water, the young man drank it, lost consciousness, and awoke in the social media personality’s bed only to realize that he was raped.
Sometime thereafter he confided in a social worker. His aunt said that her nephew was ashamed. She also revealed that along with a businessman she called the social media personality, and he asked if her reason for calling was that she needed help. This social media personality is known to help the less fortunate with support from sponsors. I am sure that there are many people that he has helped who are grateful and some of them will stand by him.
It is unfortunate that sometimes those in positions of power, trust, or those with a little bit of fame, use their popularity to abuse people. Whether it is that they groom and rape children or engage in nonconsensual sex with adults, there are those in Guyana who believe they can engage in these behaviours and not face any consequences because of their position or who they know.
The rumour mill keeps running in Guyana. The stories about people in positions of power or trust abusing their privilege by engaging in deviant behaviours are many and unfortunately it is rare that we see them being prosecuted. What we are telling victims of grooming, sexual coercion, or sexual violence often is that their pain, trauma, confusion, and mental anguish do not matter. It is not only that Guyanese lives generally do not matter unless one is rich or has connections to those in positions of power, but too often we expose ourselves by our actions and our words, that we do not care about victims of sexual abuse.
And even in this trending story, I have heard questions about whether the young man was really raped because he was twenty years old. There are always those who are quick to believe the accused rather than empathize with the accuser. What we do know is that a young man is dead because he took his life. And what that tells us is that he was in pain and wanted it to end.
The fact that it is alleged that drugs played a role in the story should concern us. There seems to be a rise in recreational drug use in Guyana. We have even seen it in our schools. Our young people, especially, are being influenced by music, by what they see on the web, television and by their peers. Behaviours that would have been condemned in the past, are now accepted. I believe in freedom, but I also do not believe that a society should allow itself to become so depraved that the lines between right and wrong or good and evil are permanently blurred.
According to the young man’s aunt, she told the social media personality that she wanted to meet with him. He enquired about what it was about, made excuses and refused to meet with her. One would imagine that this social media personality, who by his works would appear to be a humanitarian, would make time to meet with and listen to this woman, but the allegation that he made excuses and refused to meet with her leaves many questions.
She said that it is now in the hands of the police. Hearing that matters are in the hands of the police in Guyana does not inspire confidence in the Guyanese people. Allegations of corruption in the Guyana Police Force never cease. Such allegations include bribes that could buy freedom and keep crimes unsolved, even when the police possess the evidence for people to be tried and convicted. So, though the Guyanese people, like the dead man’s aunt, can cry for justice, there is no guarantee that if the social media personality is indeed guilty that there will be justice.
The life of that young man mattered whether he took his life because he was drugged and raped or for some other reason. His death also brings attention to mental health in Guyana and the fact that many with mental health issues do not receive the help they need. Whether it is the stigma, doubt, or the system, too many of our people are hopeless and suffering and too many have lost their lives. Mental health is everyone’s business and we the people should look out for our relatives and friends, or if it is us who need help, be self-assured enough to seek help. And one must be able to believe that the systems in place will help them. Too often we hear stories that these systems are lacking. We should be cognizant of the systems in place and advocate for better care and more access to the services.
It is not acceptable that we continue to hear these stories of people being drugged and raped. It was just a few weeks ago that another social media personality was accused of the same. We must be in a heightened state of awareness and be careful about who we associate with. Perhaps we should not trust too easily, especially when we do not know people well. We must be careful and deliberate about who has access to us.
Parents it is your duty to raise your children and not let the outside influences be the greater influence in their lives.
