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This is an open letter to the government, as there is no one in government to whom I believe these concerns can be addressed specifically. I write this letter as a Parliamentarian with responsibility for shadowing the Gender Affairs Ministry in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I also write this letter as a woman, and a woman who has seen the catastrophic effects of abuse in our society.
The New Democratic Party embarked on a mission to engage with this country’s women whom we believe have been enduring victimisation, domestic and sexual violence in unprecedented numbers over the past decade. This conversation started on March 23, 2015 at our party headquarters.
The issue of domestic violence and violence against women and girls is not a new issue, and our designation as a nation where this type of violence “runs rife” is internationally prescribed. We therefore think it is a matter of critical importance to speak about the situation and to seek to address the complexities of fixing this issue today. The conversation we feel, is long overdue.
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The NDP was approached by Kate, a woman we did not know before, who told us her story and her desire to speak out and to give her voice and experience for those who are trapped in situations of domestic violence and abuse, where they have for the moment lost their own voices. We listened to her, understood how her testimony could help others in similar situations and the NDP gave her the opportunity to speak. She was brilliant, eloquent, genuine, in her presentation and she moved everyone who listened.
Today, two days later, I have listened to the response of Elson Crick Communications Consultant for the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
On STAR FM, Elson Crick, engaged in naming and shaming Kate, in a presentation where he disclosed private personal details about Kate, including her changed name, deportation details, travel details and dates and date of birth. This information would only have been available to him as an employee of the government in a privileged position. That he would so viciously attack this woman, who has lived through violence and abuse over the years, with no thought for her personal safety, or the message being sent by his vilification of her character can only be an unconscionable act of wanton recklessness and malice. Surely, this could not have been government approved.
I would hope that the government did not and does not sanction his conduct. I would hope that he was not instructed by the Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonslaves or the Minister of Foreign Affairs Camillo Gonsalves to behave as he did.
In such a case, the only recourse open to the government is to demand the immediate resignation and removal of Elson Crick from all aspects of government. To refuse his dismissal is to endorse his comments and to adopt them as the government’s position on how to treat with domestic violence and abuse survivors. His behaviour and utterances are totally unacceptable, and MUST NOT be tolerated by any government that describes itself as upholding the constitution of our nation and the human rights of our people.
Crick MUST GO and GO NOW. Women deserve and DEMAND better.
Hon. Vynnette A. Frederick, Opposition Senator
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In the IWN article reporting the Opposition Leader’s comments Mr Crick is reported to have said that he did see why he should resign because he did the research and the information he gave was accurate. From which I infer that Mr Crick, a self-described “Communications Consultant”, is of the view that any accurate information, whatever the circumstances, is suitable for publication. That publishing accurate information as part of a research project (but always with with personal information redacted) and broadcasting accurate but PRIVATE information is apparently a distinction beyond this “Communications Consultant’s” understanding. I have commented on this view in response to that IWN article.
Crick is ULP, he ain’t going nowhere, girl.
So what if the result was accurate? He didn’t prove her information was false. What he demonstrated is the hatred against anyone who complains about rape and abuse. It shows that the ULP men and women dont care about women in the society. She never even called Crick a Prick, which will be accurate. Its too late to turn back now, because the world knows we have an alleged rapist PM. The UN should be involved to ensure women are protected in SVG from an abusive and rapist government. Too often people are silent on major issues because of victimization in SVG. I wonder how many more women are out there with similar complains? Is the attack on this young lady a warning to others to stay put? There is no hanging anymore in SVG, but surely they can castrate the suckers.
If Crick is saying that he is right because the information is accurate then we are in a really sad state. Even if the information is accurate we are dealing with a person’s private information. If that information is not available to the public, like a public record that any Tom, Dick or Harry can access then she has a right that her information be kept private. Kate needs to look at whether a breach of confidence has been committed. Just because its not defamatory does not mean he is right to do what was done.
What is so especially sickening about this is that there is a possible infringement of a person’s right to privacy. That right was possibly infringed not for some higher purpose like saving a life or trying to locate a missing person. It was possibly infringed for something as low down as base, rank politics.