Dear Editor,
We have just celebrated Mother’s Day with all its glittering and glamour as we by extension salute all women for that matter and their wonderful contributions to the development of the human race. It can truly be said that women form the bedrock of our existence on the planet, they take the global role models of conscience, farmers, educators and entrepreneurs. Throughout history, the central role of women in society has ensured the stability, development and long-term progress of any nation. So, on this joyous occasion, we salute our womenfolk.
Now amidst all the celebrations, there are mothers that are sorrowful, mourning the loss of a loved daughter, sister, mother, aunt or niece, the list is long, all because some beast of a man decided that he could abuse and even kill her. This is the demonic and backward behaviour blowing across this country and I must say, if drastic measures are not taken to arrest this sick attitude of some men to our women, sad would be our existence in this part of the globe. Measures have to be put in place right now to stem this pandemic.
Many women have suffered at the hands of their spouses or boyfriends, beastly men who believe that women are personal property for them to do as they please. In fact, personal property is treated with more care and respect than some of the women in the lives of some of these men.
I am talking about a man savagely killing a woman, then, in turn, leading a search party to find her. It all goes to show the sadistic nature of some of these brute beasts called men. What is distressing is the fact that these men believe that they have a right to, as they put it, “control” a woman and that control comes in the form of mental and physical abuse even death.
This is the psychology behind the behaviour of some male folks in our midst. So, in his mind, a woman can be cursed at, beaten, raped or murdered, all because his sadistic egocentric control mentality has to be gratified. This is the newfound demonic obscenity that has taken over our country.
But while I lament this reality, I am equally appalled at the punishment these God-forsaken men get when they are caught. Far more depressing is the situation of punishment for the crimes committed against women. Very often we find men getting some innocuous sentencing for crimes committed against a woman, which makes you wonder what in the world was that Judge thinking when sentencing was handed down. No wonder many are of the opinion that a man would get less time for the capital offence of murder than for a few ounces of ganja, the telltale facts are there to prove my point.
The empirical data is there to prove that sentencing for crimes against women are woefully inadequate and sometimes way off target. And even if he gets “reasonable time,” after a few short years of incarceration he appeals and those in the higher court oftentimes reduces his time considerably. Thus, he is set free to roam among us. I believe this is the notion that is being held by these savages that have kept the statistics of female homicides constantly rising. And again, I say if this situation is not brought swiftly to a halt, we might well be on the brink of becoming the female homicide capital of the Caribbean.
In my book, I believe that the punishment should fit the crime – end of discussion – right now that does not appear to be the case and I am calling on the authorities in the Executive as well as the Judiciary to urgently address this situation. No longer must we sigh and cry while our womenfolk are butchered at the hands of uncivilised men. Stiffer penalties must be administered to the criminal. At the present moment, only one Judge has taken the bull by the horns and is administering judgements commensurate to the crimes committed. He has gone out on a limb in his bid to bring back sanity to society and in my view, others need to follow.
As I write, I must say that I am not in the least interested in the semantics or the politics of the day, I am concerned in the wholesome and appropriate application of the law as it relates to crimes against women. Let the politicians do their dance, they have their conscience to deal with, that is, if some of them do have a conscience, however, I on the other hand is clamouring for the justness of the punishment or the fitting punishment to the crime. The point is, let the law be the conscience for those who do not have a conscience, get the sick sadistic misfits to come to terms with their actions. And the only option available to show them that way is to have them removed from normal society for a long time, a very long time, where they can rehabilitate themselves. I rest my case.
Respectfully,
Neil Adams
