Community engagements needed to curb violent behaviour – Reverend Gilbert

National Commission for the Family Chairman, Reverend Dr Kwame Gilbert believes there is need for intervention in the form of outreaches to communities, in order to address the upsurge of violent behaviour being played out in society.
During a telephone interview with Guyana Times International, Dr Kwame Gilbert said many citizens are publically expressing outrage at the sudden increase in murders taking place in Guyana, due to such violent behaviour.
He believes this tragedy is occurring as a result of mental instabilities, for which early help is needed when detected.
As such, to curb such mental behaviour that can lead to physical abuse, Dr Gilbert said there is need for a continuous national discussion on behavioural change and its consequences.
He said outreaches should be hosted by the relevant authorities, with the help of religious bodies to engage families and communities, with the aim of sensitising them.
Such activities Gilbert noted, would allow family members to seek immediate intervention and for their concerns to be addressed.
Dr Gilbert also emphasised the need for persons to report any suspected violent acts.
With reference to a recent Trinidad report in which president of the Inter-Religious Organisation Dr Harrypersad Maharaj said that the country needs to stop just praying and start acting, Gilbert said both facets are interrelated.
Maharaj made the statement in response to reports that gunmen in Trinidad had killed seven people between last Friday night and Saturday morning and three more persons between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
However, Gilbert clarified that while more involvement is needed from the religious community in Guyana, more action is indeed.
Gilbert concluded that the authorities need to explore every possible means of intervention necessary to control and ultimately eliminate violence in the country.
A number of recent incidents, including murders and robberies, can be summed up as evidence of the recent upsurge in the spate of killings occurring in Guyana.
On July 26, Gregory Elvis Fernandes, 24, of Mandela Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown was shot once to the head and once to his chest during an argument over a vehicle.
Six days after, Richard Lord, 26, formerly of Wales, West Bank Demerara hacked his two children to death at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo and left his reputed wife Nazalena Houston, 26, hospitalised.
The woman reportedly lost her left hand and three fingers from her right hand.
Meanwhile, on August 2, the body of Delon Melville, 26, of Lot 134 Nelson Street, Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara was discovered in a backdam about a mile from the village. His body bore several stab wounds.
And as recent as August 4, an ex-soldier hammered his wife to death in their Jonestown, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara home and then took his own life.