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Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace and other member of the panel at his party's "Conversation with Women" on Monday. (IWN photo)
Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace and other member of the panel at his party’s “Conversation with Women” on Monday. (IWN photo)
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The views expressed herein are those of the writer and do not represent the opinions or editorial position of I-Witness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].

March 23, 2015, will go down in Vincentian history as the day, a prominent figure in leadership within St. Vincent and the Grenadines provided a platform for women in the country to reclaim their voices and speak out about the heinous rapes and violence that are being committed against them and their daughters. As the president of Save Our Sisters, (SOS), Inc., an organization that was newly established with the purpose of helping to reduce violence against women in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, I would like to applaud Mr. Arnhim Eustace for having the courage and the interest in moving this issue to the national and international forefront.

There are those who will question Mr. Eustace’s motivation in saying that he is not genuine and he only did it for political expediency. I would like to say to these individual, as an almost rape victim and a past victim of domestic violence that, I don’t particularly care about Mr. Eustace’s motive. My sole concern is that the issue is now on the front burner and it finally receiving some well-deserved attention. I would like to believe that the women and children that are currently living in a literal hell from being raped and violently abused will support me in this regard. Women in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have been suffering for what seems like an eternity and people like myself have been screaming regularly like a banshee, but all of our screaming have been falling on deaf ears as far as those in leadership are concerned.

Many adopt a “don’t care attitude” towards the rape and violence that women have been experiencing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Some even blame the victims for being raped. They lecture women about the clothing that they wear as if women’s clothing is a rape invitation. The most painful thing is to hear teachers, who teach our young girls verbalising these sentiments. A teacher has even accused me of “destroying and tearing down” Vincy by highlighting these atrocities that are being committed against my sisters and their daughters in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is important that we teach these teachers that rape is a crime and that women are not to be blamed for being raped. Do we blame the murder victim for being murdered? No, we don’t. It is time for us as a people to stop stigmatising and blaming rape victims and treat the perpetrators as the criminals that they are rather than macho heroes.

I may not support Mr. Eustace on all of his agenda, but I am grateful to him for opening the door to the start a national and international conversation on this issue. It is only through education and counselling that we are going to be able to bring healing to these victims. This is no time for criticising or questioning Mr. Eustace’s motives. It is time for all others who care about women and women’s issues to tell us about their plans to remedy the situation. Mr. Eustace has started the dialogue. He has thrown his cards on the table. Now, is the time for others to do likewise and tell us exactly how they plan to reduce this epidemic of rape, incest, and domestic violence that is destroying our nation.

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Sincerely,

Helena R. Edward

President

Save Our Sisters (SOS) Inc.

Email: [email protected]

The opinions presented in this content belong to the author and may not necessarily reflect the perspectives or editorial stance of iWitness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].

One reply on “Eustace must be applauded for bringing women issues to the forefront”

  1. Helena I asked you before about your support for Ralph Gonsalves and asked you to comment on his being charged for rape, yet never going before a court to answer those charges.

    Helena I am sorry but I cannot be asked to accept anything that you write say or do, until you are willing to make some comment on the fact that Gonsalves was charged with rape, he was charged also by another lady of sexual assault, according to the DPP there were a number of other complaints of a sexual nature, but he said they were alleging something that happened a long time ago.

    So Helena, what exactly do you have to say about that?

    Recently they put men in prison in the UK, for cases brought recently, for things that happened 40 and 50 years ago. In British law, like murder, rape and sex crimes have no expiry date, unlike america where sex crimes become statute barred after a certain time.

    We operate in SVG under the British system, so statute should not bar considering all those past complaints against the PM. They should all be put before a court without the interferance by the DPP, in refuseing to allow the cases to go forwards.

    So Helena lets see some SOS action on your part for past allegations against Ralph Gonsalves. Lets see what you are really made of, let the ladies see before they decide to join your new society of “Save Our Sisters”.

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