Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence

– Govt still mum on Charandass’s insults against women

BY KRISTEN MACKLINGAM

As Guyana gets ready to join the rest of the world in commemorating “International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women” Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence is campaigning for ‘zero’ tolerance for violence against women and girls to new communities, spaces and audiences.

Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha President, Dr Vindhya Persaud

However, Minister Lawrence along with the rest of her ministry remains mum on the recent incident of AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Charandass Persaud, verbally assaulted female Parliamentarian and President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha Dr Vindhya Persaud for merely expressing her views on her religion.

The sentiments aired by the AFC Parliamentarian via a Letter to the Editor prompted much disapproval and condemnation from a number of women’s rights supporters who have been calling on him to publicly apologise for his statement.

“Dr Vindhya Persaud so disgusted me that I felt like hauling (her) off the stage,” penned the AFC member in the letter carried in Stabroek News.

However, instead of apologising Charandass, also an Attorney, when contacted by Guyana Times on the matter, appeared unrepentant and this was further supported by his response:

AFC Member of Parliament Charandass Persaud

“Who the hell is Vindhya Persaud? And if they kiss my ass, I will apologise to Vindhya Persaud. That is all they need to hear,” he vehemently stated.

To date, the Social Protection Minister and her female counterparts who sit on the government benches in Parliament are yet to publicly condemn the AFC parliamentarian for both of his statements which are deemed “offensive” and “distasteful” among many women.

To make matters worse, Minister Lawrence as the Social Protection Minister, who is trumpeting the call to end violence against women and girls has failed to ensure that Charandass apologise to both Dr Vindhya and the women of this country for his utterances.

In a media statement on Sunday on the topic of Guyana celebrating “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” Minister Lawrence had a very powerful message:

“There is one truth that should not go unnoticed that is applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, and never tolerable. Let us take action now. Let us deepen and broaden our partnership, bringing all in society to help us end violence against women and girls everywhere,” the minister stated.

She went on to say there is no blanket approach to fighting violence against women because strategies may work in one community but this does not mean they will have desirable results elsewhere.

According to the Social Protection Minister, violence affects everyone, irrespective of her/his status, society, colour, race, religion, ethnicity or social background.

“Far too often, the crimes go unpunished; the perpetrators whom over time are predominantly men and boys walk free. I therefore call on men around our beautiful country to lead by example, to make clear that violence against women is an act perpetrated by a coward, and that speaking up against it is a badge of honour,” she added.

The public is yet to see the Minister take her own advice and speak out against the actions of her fellow MP, Charandass Persaud, and to ensure that he does the “acceptable thing” which is apologise.

Meanwhile the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) member, former parliamentarian and fellow Attorney James Bond has joined the bandwagon calling on his colleague to do the honourable thing and apologise.

Recently, during an International Men’s Day event, Bond underlined that any statement or comment that lends itself to aggression against women should be strongly condemned:

“I don’t care who says it. We should not be making these statements in this day and age.”

Bond explained that an apology is necessary, given the public outrage over the matter:

“If he said statements that provoked violence towards a woman, then I would say he is wrong and he should apologise. I know him very well, I know he’s a gentleman and I don’t think it is in him to abuse a woman… If your statements are taken out of context, apologise and clear it up… don’t let it fester,” he urged the AFC parliamentarian.

Also, President of a newly formed men’s group ReMan Guyana, Alvin Doris, also called on the parliamentarian to apologise.

“CharandassPersaud did not have to be a Member of Parliament or a prominent Attorney to find it necessary to apologise. Any man should apologise for offending a woman in any way,” Doris stated.

Nonetheless, he noted that “from time to time, we have these slipups that is an affront to womanhood” however, in such situations it is necessary to apologise;

“When a man does something like that, it reflects badly on manhood generally. I ask your pardon as woman… we (men) are not to destroy the woman, or demean the woman; we ought to celebrate the woman, that’s what a man ought to be…,” he stated.

Letters to the Editors written by both men and women are also evidence of the growing outrage over Charandass’s statements.

In addition, people are taking to social media to vent their disgust over the unprofessional conduct of Charandass and the lack of action taken by the administration to reprimand such offensive demeanours.

Moreover, People’s Progressive Party/Civic Member of Parliament Bishop Juan Edghill believes strongly that Persaud should resign or be terminated from his post as a parliamentarian.(kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)