Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 15, 2010 Letters
Dear Editor,
Every time I read a report or a letter regarding the Neesa Gopaul issue I go into a rage. It cannot be said enough that our society failed the girl! The police failed her, the Ministry of Social Services failed her, Queen’s College failed her, her extended family failed her…Above all else her mother failed her.
Now she is dead. Her head appears to have been bashed in to the point where it didn’t even appear to be there. Her body was stuffed into a suitcase and dumped into a creek where she may have been drugged and sexually violated previously. So what now? Apart from persons accepting the obvious (“we could have done more”). Who will be made an example for this heinous crime? Will her death pass from our memories when another sensational story arises? Or will we let Neesa’s death be a blood curling squeal for help from all those in need of it?
While the surrounding circumstances of what transpired leading up to Neesa’s death are not fully revealed it is clear that she was taken advantage of by the persons who were legally and socially responsible for her development and protection. Her case was special, but those who care enough to initiate a change in the way matters of this nature are dealt with should not be deceived: Neesa is not the only one.
I myself was molested by someone I trusted who was like a father to me about a decade ago. I was also a student of a top secondary school. There were indications of my abuse which persons within the school environment could have noticed. No one took heed. No one offered a helping hand. I eventually called my mother to inform her of what happened. With a broken heart, and tears in her eyes she held my hand and walked me into the police station confident that she would see justice prevail.
After the initial report was made, days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, months turned into years. All the while my mother was torn apart by the thought that she had somehow failed me (My father had died when I was only a year old and my mother, not being able to care for me at the best of her ability allowed me to live with my father’s sister and her husband. It was the husband who violated me).
The matter was not being dealt with professionally from the very beginning. First of all the information though not carrying my name bore my address, and a full description of what happened to me was published in the Kaieteur News. Isn’t there a protocol regarding identity when dealing with these delicate matters? Everyone at school knew it was me. The police officers tried to duck the case after being paid by the perpetrator of the crime.
Sure enough they gave us the royal run around. You see in more ways than one Neesa was just like me. And so in my mind I have adopted her as my sister. My sister and I went through a lot. I survived 10 years ago…she didn’t today! I did not deserve to be treated that way and neither did she. For God’s sake we are by birth and experiences children of these soils! My own father died in the river trying to smuggle milk into this country for me when I was a baby during the years when it was banned!
However, unlike Neesa I had the full support of my extended family on the matter. My mother eventually sat me down one day and read for me a bible scripture: Ye shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way and they cry at all unto me, I will hear their cry; and my wrath shall wax hot and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless. (Exodus 22: 22-24). The police did not call and we never checked on the matter again: we left it in the hands of God. I lived to see that man gunned down as an innocent bystander during the crime surge on the East Coast. His body was riddled with bullets. Later I watched his widow and fatherless son cry. Call me heartless but even in my young mind this was the only real punishment for the unspeakable things he did to me. Justice was served.
Through positive reinforcement I was able to move on. The major question is: Will the younger sister survive tomorrow? I think I speak for the vast majority of middle and lower class youths in the entire country when I say that we need a drastic change in Guyana.
I don’t know much about the upper middle class since I am not afforded a chance to interact with them much (their parents, who ironically are the policy makers for a
better Guyana, ship them off to foreign countries to be educated). Guyana has deteriorated too far! The present outlook at our future shows dark clouds and heavy rainfall…just look at the age range of persons arrested for violent crimes and you should get the drift.
I read with interest one article in which a member of the opposition (PNCR) Ms. Debbie Backer said that the manner in which this matter was dealt with is reflective of the way our entire ruling government carries out their functions. She cited the throwing of the constitution over the shoulder incident as where it became blatant.
However, I am disgusted at the thought that this comment may have been a campaign effort! Take my stupid advice: that is not enough to win the elections next year. The PNCR needs to be more active to even stand a chance. The last elections should have served as an indication of what the youths need. We are tired of the PPP and PNCR arguing about the past!
The AFC put up a bit of a challenge at the last elections because the youths of Guyana desire a change. However, the AFC has done nothing from the last elections to now so my bet is that they will not be as effective as last time much less better.
Come elections next year some will vote race. Some will ‘hang their mouths where the soup is dropping’ (I fail to understand what this slogan means considering nothing drops in the poor man’s mouth except the scraps from the rich drug dealers table) meaning they will vote for the PPP.
Some will vote for a minor party and quite a lot will not vote at all. A famous philosopher once said that we hold silent on things we feel strongly about only to hear our own thoughts mirrored in other’s speech. I beseech the youths of Guyana today to stand up and speak for your rights. Demand the changes you need! We are the ones who have to bring about the change we seek. We are the only ones who can do it…the first step in this move is to respond “Yes We Can!”…The fact is that the need for a change and the young people standing up and believing that they could bring about that change is all it took for a black man to become the President of America. What about Guyana?
Name and Address Withheld
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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