Get out of abusive relationships!

Had she spoken out earlier against domestic abuse, Troumaca resident Rosalee Roberts believes she would have been in a better situation today.{{more}}

However, the victim of abuse is urging all Vincentian women to “Get out!”

Speaking at the national peace march and rally held on Friday, April 20, dubbed “Stand Up”, put on by the organization Leave Out Violence in SVG, Roberts, for the first time, spoke publicly about her misfortune.

On October 15, 2011, Roberts, 46, and her 25-year-old daughter Shanique, sustained cutlass chops from Rosalie’s boyfriend of four years, Errol Anderson.

Anderson attacked the women, then proceeded to set their five-bedroom house on fire, following a brief argument.

He subsequently died after ingesting an unknown substance.

“I got chop in my head, hands, feet and face. I am advising women who are living in such abusive situations to come out. This is not something to live with…,” she said.

Following the unfortunate turn of events, Roberts said she is unable to walk properly and can hardly use her hands. “I am not the only one who is affected by this. My daughter can hardly use her hands too because she was chopped…,” she added.

According to Roberts, women are “getting a lot of brutalization. I want these women to come out and speak out. Speak out! If I had spoken out, I would have been in a better situation today.”

Without a job, Roberts disclosed that it is very hard to make ends meet since she suffered the injuries. She further added that she even has to ask for financial assistance to help with her daughter’s academics.

“Yuh does hear man hit woman in they face and the woman going hide it up and say they butt up somewhere…. Nowadays, man don’t have no love for woman. Not all man, but majority of man, they take woman and chop them up like meat. Women are human beings too,” she added.

“Men are supposed to protect the woman… I don’t like the law in SVG when a man done chop up the woman, he going to prison to eat and run fat and when he comes out, you still have your disability. Some woman does say if a man ain’t beat yuh, he ain’t love yuh; them is long time thing. Get out!” she further implored.