Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
R. Rose
August 23, 2011

Domestic violence/child neglect both sides of a worn coin

On all too numerous occasions, the Vincentian society, our women in particular, has reacted in traumatised horror at the news of the murder or brutalisation of women in some situation of domestic violence. There have even been demonstrations and calls for drastic action to protect our sisters. Sadly, as the drama fades with time, so does the stridency of the demands- until another horror story emerges.{{more}}

We have just had another two. There was the murder in Greiggs of a young woman by her alleged lover, together with the injuring of a female friend of hers. Then, in a detestable record-breaking style, a man in his forties had approximately 160 charges of incest, rape and carnal knowledge slapped on him, for a four-year orgy against his four daughters. Sickeningly, one of the sons of the accused was also hit with four charges of a similar nature.

Predictably, there have been public outcries and condemnation, including a statement by Minister with responsibility for Gender Affairs Frederick Stephenson. Local women’s organisations have made their voices heard, as expected. This comes in the wake of revelations that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the countries with the highest number of reported sex offences, not just in the Caribbean, but in the entire world. A recent study, conducted for the Organization of American States by St. Lucian Ms. Yasmin Odlum, put our rate of such offences per every 100,000 persons as 112, while the global average is 15. In addition, during the first decade of this millennium, there were 857 recorded cases of alleged sexual assault, rape or incest in SVG, 55 against innocent minors.

So, there is every reason to be concerned and to call out for strong action against offenders, as well as measures to ensure the greater safety of women. This is not just a “women’s issue”; it is a fundamental one of human rights, dignity and public morality. Too many of us men stay on the sidelines, unless our very own are involved. Only then are we prepared to kill. In fact, we are prone to blame the victims, as in the current infamous example of the African migrant maid trying to press rape and sexual assault charges against a ‘big-boy’, the former Head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It is her character, not his actions, which is coming under scrutiny.

The other problem is the lack of unity on a common platform in the local women’s movement. If ever there was a reason for all women and their respective organisations to stand on common ground, sexual violence, assault, rape and incest provide the most common denominator. Strengthening of laws, their enforcement, appropriate training of law enforcement officers etc. are not going to come from knee-jerk reactions to brutal incidents. We must be persistent, consistent and committed to widening the base of support to include men as well.

At the same time, there is need to face up to and confront those female failings in our midst, often seized upon as excuses for deviant behaviour on the part of males. Just as we were grappling with domestic violence against women for instance, a different horror story emerged, which resulted in the ghastly death by fire of a five-month-old child. The incident seems to be a classic case of child neglect, a factor all too common among young mothers. It is not the first time that such an incident has occurred, children being left to fend for their defenceless selves while mothers ‘take-off’.

Whatever the circumstances, mothers and those responsible for the care of the young have a sacred responsibility to provide the care and security necessary to guarantee the safety of the child. It is accepted internationally that physical neglect of a child “..includes child abandonment, inadequate supervision… and failure to provide for the child’s safety and physical and emotional needs”.

Just as we abhor cases of domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse, we must be equally strong in insisting that those, particularly young mothers, charged with responsibility for care of the young, live up to those responsibilities. The practice of abandoning children for long periods, unsupervised, is taking a tragic toll, not only on these children, but by extension on the society as a whole. It represents the flip side of that worn coin of domestic violence against women. That coin is long outdated and needs to be re-minted.

The twin ills of domestic violence and child neglect need to be confronted by us all.

Renwick Rose is a community activist and social commentator.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Villa woman in  hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Front Page
    Villa woman in hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Police are said to be carrying out investigations into the stabbing of Rafia Sardine, a 20-year-old female of Villa. Reports are that Sardine, a FLOW ...
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Front Page
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    In St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), an analysis has found that the most hacked government entity was the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Polic...
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Front Page
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Leaders of Governments and institutions from countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the continent of Africa, gathered at the weekend for ...
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Front Page
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is proud of the persons in his constituency who continue to aim for higher education. Dr Gonsalves is the parliame...
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Front Page
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A van conductor, who beat his five- months pregnant ex-girlfriend after she refused to get back with him, has been remanded pending sentencing. Onez J...
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    From the Courts, News
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A Lowman’s Hill man who struck another villager in his head with a piece of steel will know his fate tomorrow, September 10, 2025. Kevin Roberts, 25, ...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok