Inter-faith forum hosted to address domestic violence, child abuse

Perpetrators of domestic violence and child abuse came under fire last Wednesday at an inter-faith prayer and candlelight vigil held at Port Mourant, East Berbice, where more than 400 persons from all walks of life converged to register their dissatisfaction with the growing number of cases of domestic violence and child abuse.

The forum was organised by the New Jersey Arya Samaj/Guyana Central Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission in collaboration with religious leaders from the Hindu, Christian and Muslim faiths. Representatives from the government and NGOs groups within the community also attended the event.

The event was designed to address the daunting problem of Domestic Violence and Child abuse in the Country, particularly Berbice.

Held under the theme, “Enough is Enough!” the awareness forum brought together persons from diverse groupings, joining hands and taking a principled position aimed at frontally addressing and breaking the neck of the scourge, currently being witnessed in its worst form, and which strikes at the very fabric of society.

Speakers at the event included Minister Jenniffer Webster, Regional Chariman Mr. David Armogan, Magistrate Chardra Sohan, Pandit Sugrim, Professor Samad, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, Guywid, Guyfuse, Mr. Alex Foster and Pastor Nandrine Kishoon, Pandit Deonarine, Pandit Achee and many others .

The meeting called for unified approach to fighting the scourge of domestic violence and child abuse.

In a scathing attack on the scourge, Professor Samad declared, “To combat this evil, we must all join hands and form a protective barrier that keeps safe, our young and vulnerable. Each religious organisation has a part to play; each social group must be part of this.

“The Guyana Police Force is central; the legal community must come on board; the private sector must lend its voice. The education system must give this attention; each governmental and regional agency must make this part of its mandate; and the University of Guyana must be at the forefront.”

Professor Samad noted that the perpetrators of domestic violence and child abusers are people without moral substance – “They are without conscience, without decency, without goodness,” he said, adding that our society should have zero tolerance for that kind of moral corruption.

Meanwhile, Pandit Suresh Sugrim, President of the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc. Humanitarian Mission also addressed the gathering and condemned domestic violence and child abuse (molestation) in the strongest possible terms.

Highlighting the atrocities, and calling for a new way forward, he said, “Women need to be loved; children need to be cared for…” He is however of the view that, “… the only way we can break this vicious cycle is through the power of education and committed endeavour.”