Ramotar urges retraining of police ranks to deal with domestic violence

President Donald Ramotar has vowed not to sit idly by and allow Guyanese women to continue suffering at the hands of violent spouses. He is calling for a reorientation in the way the police approach and address the issue.

He told staff of the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry gathered for a conference at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) on December 19 that his government will ensure the effective functioning of the systems that are put in place to provide a safe refuge for women in Guyana. “It is a criminal and abhorrent act when any woman is abused, emotionally, mentally, or physically, and no woman should be a victim of sexual or domestic violence,” President Ramotar said.

He believes that the police with whom the responsibility lies to investigate cases of domestic abuse should know that such issues should be treated with sensitivity, and in this regard, he called for training for such to be accomplished. “Too often people take the position that this is a family matter… we saw in many cases it ends in murder and loss of life. The government, through this ministry, has sought to break the silence on these atrocities, and is committed to the sustained rejection of abuse in any form,” President Ramotar said.

The role of men as father figures and role models in the home was also part of the call by President Ramotar, who used his own upbringing in a home with 11 siblings as an example. He said that a supportive father in the home impacts positively on the short and long-term stability, safety and success of the family unit.

“I wish to urge all fathers to recognise and fulfill their roles and responsibility in the family,” Ramotar said.

The government has been giving special attention to single-parent households with numerous initiatives, one of which is the Women of Worth (WoW) micro-credit scheme and skills training for single parents. Under the WoW programme, single parents can borrow loans of up to Gy$ 250,000 with an interest rate of six per cent per annum and a maxi mum repayment period of 24 months. The loans are geared towards entrepreneurship ventures.

President Ramotar said given the special needs which this vulnerable group has, government intends to expand the range and benefits available to them and review options to make the tax regime more family friendly. He had announced during an interview with the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) that experts have been nominated to a panel that will review the tax system and that the process will begin soon.

The government’s policies and programmes on child care and protection were also highlighted by President Ramotar, making reference to homes for children in need of refuge, counseling and support for families in crisis, and foster care and adoption services which he assured will continue.

New Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster, who was also part of the conference, spoke of the integral link between the work of the ministry and allied agencies such as the security forces and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), particularly on the issue of child abuse. She said it is important to identify, map, and promote inter-agency collaboration and consultation to achieve a broader range of dialogue on social issues that lead to the crafting of policies and programmes.

In May this year, a Gy$ 25 million head office of the Child Care and Protection Agency was opened in Charlestown, Georgetown as efforts to secure the well-being of the nation’s children intensify. The agency responds to reports of child abuse and provides havens for children at risk of harm and abuse, as well as psychosocial support.

Support for the homeless and destitute is also part of the government’s human services agenda and according to President Ramotar, the government will continue its support to the Night Shelter. He added the state is working on the rehabilitation and reintegration of those groups into society.