…for women
Your Eyewitness takes this matter of violence against females very seriously. It’s long past the time to be pussyfooting around the issue. From the newspapers, it’s clear that no category of female is sacrosanct – rich, poor, black, white, (and every combination and permutation of in-between shades) etc. What this signals, of course, is that the problem ain’t just a result of idiosyncratic males, but a systemic problem in males as a category.
And a systemic problem needs a systemic solution; and then we can hone in on the outliers that’ll always crop up. Now, this problem has been here with us from as far back as we can tell – probably back to the Cave Man days. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Even when they were “hunting and gathering”, the men, being bigger, had an advantage over women, and it’s inconceivable they wouldn’t have taken advantage of that disparity.
And it’s been that way ever since…to a point where women would’ve seen it as “just the way things are”. But, in the last hundred years, we’ve come a long way, haven’t we? There’s been a gradual acceptance that all human beings are intrinsically equal – and should be treated equally. The fact that some might be bigger, smarter or taller shouldn’t – in and of itself – be used to treat anyone as punching bags. And then we invented “the state” – supposed to make and enforce laws to ensure equality of treatment for all.
Problem was, the laws themselves were skewed against women – not surprisingly, since they were made generally by men! It was a long grind for women to join that exclusive club, in which there’s been some progress. But to return to the question posed earlier, the answer is, “No, we still have quite a way to go as far as women being treated equally is concerned!” So, the struggle continues; and continue it must, because, you see, dear reader, unless women are treated equally everywhere, no one will be treated equally anywhere… whether you’re male, LGBT, coloured, or whatever.
And we arrive at the specific instances in which the rule will be tested, one of them having presented itself in what used to be the bastion of male privilege, the Legislature, where the laws of the state are actually made. There’s been claim by female MPs from both sides of the House that male MPs verbally assault them. Parliament, however, has its own rules – overseen by the Speaker – for dealing with such matters.
We just gotta ensure that the Speaker is with the programme.
…for the State
There’s a constant hue and cry by the Opposition PNC that the PPP Government cleaned house too arbitrarily when they got back into office in 2020. They unlawfully fired Government employees, and did so in a racially-directed manner. Now, in a country like Guyana, which has always been tethering on the edge of ethnic/racial conflict, those are very serious charges. And must be dealt with just as seriously.
But because of that long history, there are, fortunately, a host of institutions in place to deal with such accusations. For Public Servants, there’s the Public Service Appellate Tribunal. And how about the Ombudsman? Or the ERC? The first stop for most, however, are the courts, and recourse to these has already been taken. Ironically, however, because many of the persons fired have generally been taken to the courts by the Government ON SPECIFIC charges, some eyebrows have been raised.
Aren’t the courts the arbiter of the laws – and will decide whether the Government violated any of those laws?
Why haven’t charges been filed?
…in cricket
Your Eyewitness just learnt that Shamar Joseph landed a US$ contract with the Lucknow Super Giants!! He’s replacing English player Mark Wood. Shamar’s time with our Amazon Warriors should serve him well!! Go, Shamar…you deserve all that’s been coming your way!!
