“It will not stop until people’s mindset changes”- Min. Persaud speaks up on domestic violence
In light of an alleged murder committed on Kenesha Marie Juman Vaughn, a 27-year-old housewife of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, allegedly by her reputed husband, Human Services and Social Security Minister Vindhya Persaud has spoken out on the issue of domestic violence within the country.
According to police reports, the deceased was shot at least 12 times by her reputed husband, 32-year-old Marlon DaSilva.
Marlon DaSilva and now deceased Kenesha Marie Juman Vaughn, before the alleged incident
In a statement via her Facebook page on Sunday, the minister highlighted that the senseless killing; robbing children of their mother, and families of their daughters and siblings, continues to plague our country, she added that regardless of the situation, nothing justifies taking a person’s life.
The minister noted that despite the many systems the ministry has put in place, this unfortunate reality could only be altered if individuals change their mindsets.
She further shared some words of advice for both men and women as well as family members in relation to domestic violence:
“Men, let her go if the relationship is unhealthy, plagued by jealousy, or she wants to move on, or whatever the reason; beating, killing, abusing, will never be right. Women, leave and stay away from perpetrators of violence, even if you have children; they are not going to change if they are beating, raping or abusing you; killing might be next the red flags… the Family Violence Act has provisions to support you if you want to leave, and the State Provides shelter,” she entreated.
“Family, whether his or hers, if you know there is violence, don’t dismiss for any reason; nothing is worse than waking up to the news that another woman was killed…Everyone, we can blame many things, but if we see it it’s wrong, report it and support the survivor; this cannot be fixed by any one person or agency. Violence is too embedded in the psyche and the culture of how we deal with conflict and emotion we have to keep supporting and working with everyone around us to not see that [violence] as an option, no matter the situation,” she added.
Meanwhile, detectives continue to investigate the alleged murder, with the suspect, a licensed firearm holder, now in police custody.
