Mobile phones with cameras are some of the greatest inventions of our time. Not only are we able to stay in touch and make connections with people across the globe, but many dark corners of the world are now illuminated by the eye of the mobile phone. Pleasant surprises warm our hearts, but we are also exposed to the folly of nations and atrocities like murders being caught on camera such as the famous George Floyd case in the United States. We have seen death in progress and so many deaths that many are desensitized. The endless violence has left permanent mental injuries on some of us and though we see a world of humans losing human traits like love, compassion, and intellect, we often feel hopeless and powerless to influence positive change.
The assault of women has not missed the eye of the mobile phone camera. It is because of a mobile phone camera that we were able to witness the behaviour of our recently recalled High Commissioner to India Charrandass Persaud. In what can be described as crass and repulsive behaviour, Persaud was caught on video disrespecting Ms. Sonya Ghosh, who leads an animal welfare organisation, is an ecologist and teaches at Delhi University. This verbal attack on Ms. Ghosh reminds us that it does not matter a woman’s status in society, she is subject to abuse by men because many men have been conditioned to believe that women are inferior.
We would like to imagine that the men we elevate in our society to become our leaders are great thinkers and honourable men. But history has shown leaders of our country who do not respect women. There are men in positions of power who have been accused of psychologically, verbally, physically, and sexually abusing women and yet often, have faced no consequences for their actions. Instead, excuses are often made, or it is hoped that silence and time will make the ills disappear or be forgotten, and what is even worse is that we have a system that often seeks to protect prominent Guyanese men who violate women.
The Persaud incident occurred in August of 2021, but it was only within the last week that the footage was released to the public. What is telling is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which was aware of this incident for some time was quick to release a press release stating that the matter was investigated in India, Persaud was cleared and therefore the matter was considered closed. It was stated in the press release that after an investigation “allegations of sexual abusive words to the complainant has (sic) not been substantiated.”
The thing about living in an era of mobile phones with cameras and CCTV is that often when we see what we see and hear what we hear, the protectors of evil doers, the authors of confusion or agents of chaos still try to pull wool over our eyes. Like we are living in an asylum, suffering from psychosis, they try to mock us with these attempts to say that words were misconstrued, or our eyes are lying to us or that our ears are hearing falsehoods. In the case of Persaud, perhaps the investigation sought to change the exchange between him and Ghosh to one that was respectful and loving instead of the verbally sexually abusive attack we saw. The fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was so quick to seek to put this matter to rest exposes how little regard there is for women and how much the shortcomings of some men are minimized or overlooked. It reinforces that those we elevate in our society are not always high-minded.
The fact that it was after public shock and outrage that President Irfaan Ali made the announcement that Persaud’s tour of duty would come to an end, more than a year after the incident occurred, also speaks volumes. We can assume that had the video never been released and had there been no public outrage, that he would still be there. Many were surprised at the development because we have become so accustomed to prominent men not facing consequences for their actions. But the move to end Persaud’s tour of duty also reinforces the power of the people which we often forget. If only we can speak and stand against all ills and truly hold our leaders accountable without hesitation or pause, perhaps a much better society would emerge.
Persaud was not the only public figure in the news recently for assaulting a woman. And once again the eye of the camera told the story. Earlier this month footage was released of media personality Ossie Rodgers slapping a woman in a store in Berbice. Once again there was an attempt to cast doubt on what our eyes would have seen when Rodgers said the video was doctored. He claims he was provoked and called racial slurs, but this was not the first time Rodgers was accused of allegedly assaulting a female. In 2014 there was a case where he allegedly slapped a thirteen-year-old girl for being too close to a young man who was his friend. It was reported that this adult male barged into the home of the child, confronted her about text messages exchanged between her and the young man and proceeded to assault her. Perhaps that incident was also illusory. Rodgers has an influential platform and eight years after the first reported incident it was shown through CCTV footage that he has not changed.
The cases of Persaud and Rodgers, reinforce that many, if not most Guyanese men do not respect women. Every woman has stories of being disrespected. And the disrespect for many women becomes violence. We see our women dying throughout the year by the hands of men. This week Sharon Scott of Ann’s Grove, who was stabbed and burned by her husband a month ago, died. Her husband also killed their son and took his own life.
We must remind ourselves that Guyanese women are abused every day. They are abused by men in every social class. We must be reminded that women’s rights activism should not only be seen when a story is international or when the president recalls a High Commissioner, but the voices must be relentless and impossible to ignore. The Persauds and Rodgers of Guyana were conditioned in this land of many waters to be the men that they are.
We must not be waiting to act only when what’s hidden comes to light. We must be bravely walking into the darkness and shining our lights where the mental, physical, and sexual abuse scars of women are not seen. And maybe one day, when all women and girls are respected and protected, there would be no need to search for the hidden wounds.
