There was a story on social media this week about an employee attached to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs who is based in Region 9. He was accused of raping a fourteen-year-old girl. Details on social media influencer Melly Mel’s Facebook page, were that the accused invited the fourteen-year-old girl, her sister, and her mother to help him during a party he was hosting on Old Year’s Night. It was alleged that he raped the fourteen-year-old in front of her sister. It was also alleged that the man is a serial rapist who has raped several underaged girls. The man was apparently arrested but the issue was quickly settled, and the mother of the child received a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. There were voice notes from relatives discussing the matter including one of the aunts of the accused who revealed that he has been engaging in the act of rape for some time. The fact that the accused aunt was moved to speak about the crimes of her nephew is commendable for there are many instances where family members protect the rapists in their family; therefore, enabling rape culture.
Allegations about rape and incest in Indigenous communities are not new. But sexual abuse and assault are prevalent throughout Guyana. It is the secret everyone knows, but many ignore. It is a scourge that kills the innocence, kills the dreams, and hardens the heart of many young people. And whether we want to acknowledge it or not, these practices have been weaved into our society to become accepted norms supported by degenerates. The efforts to address and permanently eradicate them are not enough.
Last year during visits to Region 1 and 9 for research purposes, the one issue that was raised in every village visited was the issue of teenaged pregnancy. It was revealed that not only do teenaged girls become pregnant from relationships with teenaged boys, but there are instances where it is adult men in their community who impregnate them. Also, outsiders would go into the villages for work or other business, have relationships with the young girls, impregnate them and leave. Some of them are even foreigners from places like Brazil. There are many instances where the teenagers are left to raise these children on their own or with the support of their family.
How can we be comfortable in a society where for generations we have quietly allowed the rampant sexual abuse of children? Sporadic outrage or occasional justice is not enough to save Guyana’s children. Tackling the sexual abuse of children should be a priority until the sexual predators are no more. We cannot wait for one set of voices or faces to fight to end child sexual abuse. It is the duty of relatives, the communities, private sector, and government, all of us to seriously tackle these issues. But in the case of the accused he was said to be absolved because of his political affiliation.
The fact that he who was accused of raping the fourteen-year-old is said to have done this several times and was never indicted demonstrates the depths of depravity in our society and how instead of protecting the children it is the predators that are often protected. We have seen many instances where prominent members of society faced no consequences for their crimes. By our works it is obvious that all are not equal in this society. Too often it seems like evil defeats good, the darkness eclipses the light and many of the people have been conditioned to not speak, to condone but also to not recognize their errors. Like men preying on young girls and justifying their actions by saying that the girls are mature and consent even when they are underaged. The fact that there are grown men who are aroused to the point of engaging in sexual activity with children, should sicken all of us. But the fact that there are many in our society who condone or try to excuse it are reasons why it is still prevalent. How do we protect adults and vilify children?
We have strayed so far from the distinction between good and evil. How does anyone with the ability to feel, to love or to empathize defend a rapist? How are we sitting comfortably in a society where a person can be a serial rapist and their sins be excused while the victims are threatened or given a pittance for their suffering?
It is not normal behaviour to rape. It is not normal behaviour for parents to accept payment for their rape of their children instead of demanding that the rapist be prosecuted. It is not normal behaviour for families of the raped to be intimidated by the rapists and protectors of the rapists. It is not normal that in this country instead of protecting the most innocent amongst us first, it often seems that the ones who are first protected are those who hurt the innocent. No mother should be comfortable collecting money for the innocence and wellbeing of her child or be scared into silence. The people need to unite so that no one is fearful of sexual predators and their protectors. If at every level of society there are people passionate about protecting children, people who refuse to condone molestation and rape, people who are willing to fight on behalf of our children, a majority that holds the sexual predators accountable, then maybe we can see an end to these issues.
I had a conversation with a young man after seeing the allegations about the rape of the fourteen-year-old in Region 9. He said that he had gone into an Indigenous village and was pursuing a relationship with a young woman. He said that she looked mature but to his surprise she was only fourteen. He said he stopped pursuing her, but also went on to say that because of poverty many people are desperate in some of the villages. Mothers would offer their daughters in hopes that her daughter’s sexual exploitation would result is some benefits for the family or that the man would take on the responsibility to provide and care for the young woman. He said there were many teenagers who already had multiple children. Here we see again that poverty is the root of many evils in our society. But like many others his conclusion was that that was the culture and therefore it is normal.
The exploitation and abuse of children will never be normal. Any society that is largely silent or seeks to protect sexual predators is a society at risk for destruction. Look at Guyana and the tears that fall for various reasons every day. I am sure that many of the hurt people who hurt other people, if they were to be questioned about their childhood and were honest it would be found that many were victims of childhood sexual abuse.
Parents accept coins as a pittance for their children’s innocence, dignity, and mental health. But sometimes they are just repeating the cycle as coins were also collected for their innocence, dignity, and mental health. Sad.
