Time for City Hall to start respecting women

Dear Editor,

Last July, a lady by the name of Suzanna Nichols, who is a Canadian national and who came to Guyana upon the invitation of the Social Protection Ministry to develop a social empowerment programme for girls and women, was aggressively assaulted by four female officers of the Georgetown City Constabulary, when she took her son to the City Hall for a meeting with the then Mayor Hamilton Green.

Indeed her son reported that upon hearing the commotion he looked through the window of the Mayor’s Office as he was meeting with the Mayor at the time, and witnessed these officers aggressively assaulting his mother by punching her in the face, kicking her about the body and dragging her half naked to their office as they had ripped off her underwear and pants in the process. He said he pleaded with the Mayor to intervene and bring an end to the humiliation, assault and battery. But the Mayor did nothing. This was not surprising, but nonetheless disappointing.

Indeed, the lady ended up in the hospital after being unconscious at the City Constabulary headquarters half naked for more than 20 minutes. The doctors indicated that she had two perforated discs, a hairline fracture to the hip, and bruises and lacerations about her body. The Mayor and his City Constabulary suggested that this lady was feigning these injuries or at best exaggerating their seriousness.

Consequently, she was never given any mistreatment compensation. Again, this was not unexpected but still quite unacceptable.

One wonders whatever happened to these rogue constables who were allegedly placed under close arrest and the complete report on the matter that was supposed to be delivered to the Social Protection Minister forthwith.

Now that Hamilton Green is gone and we have a lady as Mayor who is known to help women to challenge discrimination, claim their rights, and transform their societies, it is my sincere hope that she will reopen this case and ensure that those who were found or who could now be found culpable, face the sternest possible action and that the lady be given redress.

This would show that City Hall has turned the corner and would send a message to the City Constabulary that the days of the “Wild West” in Georgetown are over. She should also ensure that the Constables are better trained to better carry out their duties and improve their image and that of the Council.

Sincerely,

Mark Roopan