“Recognize the obsession of a partner and get out” – Human Rights Group urges
By Romila Boodram
Ten in five months.
That’s the number of women who were killed by their husband, boyfriend or ex-partner so far this year, and at least 12 attacks are reported daily countrywide.
They were mothers and grandmothers between the ages of 20 and 60.
At a recent press conference, Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA) representative, Dianne Madray said that domestic violence is a crime and more education in this area is needed.
“The dangers (of domestic violence) can escalate when the community acts as a bystander, and we begin to feel that the police force does not take the level of urgency in their follow up on these matters,” Madray noted.
She said that every domestic violence case should be taken seriously to avoid a death, as in the case of Babita Sarjou, who was slain and buried in her estranged husband’s backyard for close to six years.
“When deaths occur, no amount of money can bring that person back. It makes me feel very sad and heartbroken to see the level of aggression displayed by so many of our men folk who feel ‘If they can’t have you no one else will,” the CADVA representative said.
Leolyn Sullivan
Bibi Zabida Khan
Latchmin Shivpujan
She advised women to listen and recognize the obsession of a partner and get out.
“Tell someone and learn what the warning signs are and when it speaks to you, you need to listen and get out. As women, we must place a stronger value on our self worth and not rely on a man to do it for us.”
The most important question to ask when someone is killed is what happens to their children.
According to the CADVA representative, this side of domestic homicide needs to be addressed and placed at the forefront.
The organization is currently working with children between the ages of 15 months to 21 years.
Madray said that research has shown that both direct and indirect exposure to domestic violence can have a negative impact on children’s emotional, behavioral and developmental well being.
She explained that the children interviewed so far by the organization appear normal to anyone looking at them from the outside but on the inside they are in pain.
On January 18, Leolyn Sullivan of Wismar Linden was stabbed 31 times in a neighbour’s yard after she had jumped through a window in an effort to escape.
She died while receiving treatment at the Linden Hospital.
Her reputed husband, Lawrence Carter, was taken into custody shortly after.
Simone Hackett
Bagwanttie Persaud called “Kamini” and her killer
On January 21, the battered body of 41-year-old Bibi Zabida Khan was found in a trench at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, one day after she went missing from her Seaview, Stewartville home.
A postmortem revealed that the woman had been beaten and strangled. Her reputed husband, Randolph Williams, who disappeared after the woman went missing, committed suicide a few months later.
On April 18, the partially decomposed body of 23-year-old Simone Hackett was discovered in a trench at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, a few days after she left her home to collect a package which her reputed husband had reportedly sent from the interior with a friend.
Her throat was slit and she was stabbed at least twice to her back and neck.
A few days after the discovery was made, her reputed husband, Clevon Hamilton and an alleged accomplice were charged.
On May 09, 50-year-old Bagwanttie Persaud called “Kamini” of 196 Mangroo Street, Rose Hall was chopped to death, allegedly by her reputed husband, 52-year-old Desmond Gordon.
On May 31, security guard Latchmin Shivpujan called “Radika” of Lot 3233 Crane Old Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD) was found murdered on her home. Her body bore several stabbed wounds.
Neighbours said that they heard the woman screaming for help the night before the gruesome discovery was made but no one saw anyone entering or her home.
A male security guard, with whom she had a relationship, is among four taken into custody for questioning.
