Georgetown : With 29 deaths recorded as a result of domestic violence in 2013, 21 of whom were women and girls, members of the magistracy were informed that domestic violence is no longer a private matter, but a public issue which involves the judiciary and other stakeholder groups.
The Supreme court, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges Association, based in London, England, a two-day seminar addressing domestic abuse in Guyana opened yesterday at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown with the principal target group being members of the local magistracy, police prosecutors, probation, welfare and child-care officers, NGOs, civil society groups and other key stakeholders
Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Carl Singh told members of the Police Force and Probation Officers that the incidence of domestic abuse is at an alarming level in Guyana, and pointed out that the issue damages the prospects for the economic and social development of a country. The Chancellor also noted that the role of Central Government cannot be ignored.
This seminar aims to provide magistrates with an opportunity to discuss the major issues in domestic violence cases as they confront them in the dispensation of justice with a view to strengthening the administration of justice.
Justice Singh also said that he feels that the court should really be the last resort for incidents of this type. He described as horrifying and appalling some of the reports of domestic violence which are found in the local media, and mentioned advice given by a victim of domestic abuse as she lay on her hospital bed, “she told women to run, there is no second chance,” he stated.
Chancellor Singh also explained that incidents of domestic violence must be seen as a critical human rights issue that impacts on the victims’ right to life and security. He called for the implementation of policies and programmes which are in place, noting that this would make the difference.
The facilitators at the first session of the seminar were Mark Guthrie, Legal Advisor, Justice Section, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, UK; Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale of the Turks and Caicos Islands; Justice Shamin Qureshi, Director of Programmes for Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association, London, UK; Mrs. Dianne Douglas, Clinical Psychologist, Trinidad and Tobago; and Ms. Karen De Souza, Red Thread, Guyana.
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