THE VOICE introduces a brand new column ANNOU PALE aimed at stimulating dialogue on some of the most pressing problems facing our country at this time.
We plan that this conversation will continue for some time throwing up ideas and solutions to the problems that have been identified and selected for discussion. You, the reader, have the opportunity to join the debate which in fact, has already started.
The issue of domestic violence continues to be with us 40 years after the first big case that shocked the nation: the brutal slaying of a mother by her lover at Forestiere.
Since then there have been cases of domestic violence too numerous to mention in which mainly women have been the victims. Several of them have been murdered and many more maimed. Still incidents continue, shocking the nation each time. But solutions continue to be elusive.
The recent killing of a four year old boy in Dennery in his home took domestic violence in St Lucia to a whole new level, focussing on the ill-treatment of children in the home and on the issue of corporal punishment.
What can we do to curb domestic violence? Are the mere passing of laws enough? Where are the organizations that ought to be advocating for women and children in our society? Why is domestic violence so prevalent in our society, anyway?
Tell us.
Lilia from the south
There are many reasons. There can be drug problems like alcohol, street drugs or even prescription drug abuse; money problems, stress in raising children and keeping jobs. A person can be brought up in an environment of mental and physical abuse or have no family at all. There are so many reasons. With growth in population comes more crime, more traffic jams, too much noise and when we have to face this day after day one comes home feeling like they have been through a full-fledged war zone.
Smithy
I remember when my dad used to abuse my mom. Oh boy, it gave us the urge to put him 6 ft down. But my mother a Christian woman, never stopped praying that one day it would stop. 40+ years of marriage. One thing that helped her was herself. One day she stood up to him some 19 plus years ago. And God was right by her side..so stand up to your partner with faith. Walk out with faith. If you don’t then we all shall regret what will come after.
Alice
I don’t know where in St. Lucia we can get help for Domestic Violence but, I’ll need to research on this, cause all of the news I hear them say, people need to come forward. But I’m not hearing the location where you need to come forward. Maybe I’m deaf. Maybe somebody who is helping domestic violence abusers should comment and tell us how we can get help etc.