SVGOC President urges women to run from abusive men

Women who are victims of physical abuse from men have been advised to pull themselves away from the relationship for the betterment of their sanity.

Sounding that advise was the President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee (SVGOC), Stephen Joachim.

He raised the matter as he addressed attendees of the SVGOC’s Gender Equity Commission’s activity, held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in recognition of International Women’s Day, that was commemorated internationally one week prior, on March 8.

Making reference to an incident involving a two year old girl child who was beaten to death in the USA, Joachim, thus reiterated, that physical violence is seen as a “ normal part of our society”.

He drew the parallel, stating, “ I am now 62 years old, and when I was 12 years old, it was the same thing. Nothing has changed in fifty years”.

Speaking to the females present at the Sion Hill Playing Field, Joachim said, “ I am hoping that you young people around here- the first time a man hits you- you leave and get away and run, because he will do it again. They are not going to stop. Somebody who treats you like that isn’t somebody who loves you; that’s somebody who wants to own you and control you”.

Joachim’s brief address was part of the culminating event of the afternoon’s activities, that involved a walk from the Sion Hill Playing Field to Kingstown and back.

Additionally, the participants, who were mainly women, had their blood pressure and blood sugar levels checked.

And, right on cue to complement Joachim’s plea, Seon Stronghold gave a short insight into basic techniques of self-defence.