Tag: domestic violence

First step to ending domestic violence

‘We cannot wait until a relationship becomes toxic, until a threat is made, or until the news reports another murder-suicide to respond. By then the crisis has already taken root’

SUSAN SYLVESTER-BARKER

TT IS facing an emotional and psychological crisis that is robbing us of our citizens. How do we fix this? Can we fix this? And most importantly, where do we begin?

Our nation continues to be shaken by murder-suicide incidents involving intimate partners from every walk of life. These heartbreaking events are not isolated; they reflect a deeper, growing despair within our society. A quiet darkness is spreading, one where some individuals have come to believe that the only path to peace is to end their own lives, or, tragically, the lives of those they once claimed to love.

This is not simply a crime problem. This is a human problem. A psychological crisis. A breakdown in emotional resilience, healthy coping mechanisms, and understanding of self.

Advocates have been calling for stronger support for domestic violence victims, for open conversations from the ground up, real conversations that can shift mindsets and produce lasting change for both victims and perpetrators. But to create meaningful impact we must start at the root: the internal emotional and biological forces driving people toward hopelessness, rage, and destruction.

To understand how we reached this point, we must first understand ourselves. Human beings are emotional, biological, and psychological creatures. Our choices, reactions, and relationships are shaped not only by upbringing or circumstance, but by powerful internal systems that most people know very little about.

When a person experiences rejection, fear, abandonment, stress, or emotional overwhelm, the brain shifts into survival mode. Chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, cortisol, and hormones like testosterone and estrogen begin influencing how we perceive reality.

Without proper emotional awareness, these internal reactions can cause:

• distorted thinking

• irrational decisions

• intense attachment to the wrong people

• dependency disguised as love

• fear interpreted as betrayal

• hopelessness that feels inescapable

When these emotions go unmanaged and unaddressed, they can escalate into destructive behaviour – toward oneself or toward others. This is how conflict becomes violence, and how emotional collapse becomes tragedy.

We must no longer treat emotional health as optional. It is essential to our survival as a people.

Why our approach is not working

We cannot wait until a relationship becomes toxic, until a threat is made, or until the news reports another murder-suicide to respond. By then the crisis has already taken root.

Our society often focuses on punishment, blame, and shame. But we rarely focus on prevention, on education, on teaching people how the mind works, how to manage feelings, how to regulate the body under stress, or how to recognise the signs of emotional unravelling.

Victims frequently do not understand the warning signs. Perpetrators often do not understand their own triggers. Families see changes but don’t know how to intervene. Communities observe suffering but do not know where to send people for help.

This is not a failure of character. This is a failure of knowledge.

Understanding the root: Emotional and biological triggers

When individuals are emotionally wounded or carrying unprocessed trauma, they may interpret everyday events through the lens of fear, shame, or insecurity. A simple disagreement becomes a threat. A break-up becomes abandonment. A partner’s independence becomes disrespect.

For individuals with narcissistic behaviours or traits:

• control feels like safety

• dominance feels like stability

• validation feels like oxygen

• and losing a partner feels like psychological death

This is why some respond with rage, violence, or self-destruction when they lose control of the relationship. This is not an excuse; it is a warning of a deeper emotional imbalance that must be addressed earlier.

If we do not understand these dynamics, how can we ever intervene effectively?

So where do we begin?

We begin by acknowledging that this crisis cannot be solved through law enforcement alone. We must empower our citizens with knowledge, the kind of knowledge that can reshape lives.

We need:

1. Emotional literacy in schools and communities:
Teach children, teenagers, and adults how their brain works, how emotions influence choices, and how to regulate themselves.

2. Trauma-informed programmes for victims and perpetrators: Both sides need guidance, support, and skilled intervention.

3. Safe, accessible support systems: Confidential, affordable, stigma-free avenues where people can seek help before a crisis unfolds.

4. Conversations that break shame and silence: If people are not aware of or cannot talk about their emotional struggles, they cannot heal from them.

5. National campaigns that focus on prevention, not reaction: The real solution is not after the tragedy; it is in the education we provide long before. Educate the horse while in the stable, not when it leaves and is galloping wild trampling on everyone in it’s path.

A nation cannot heal if its people do not understand themselves

We are losing sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, and partners because our people do not know how to navigate their inner world. They are emotionally overwhelmed, biologically dysregulated, and psychologically unprepared for the pressures of modern life and relationships.

Until we address this, until we teach people why they feel what they feel, why they think what they think, and how to cope in healthy ways, the cycle will continue.

Until we teach them a different way to live, with purpose, peace and self-love, we will continue to be emotionally imprisoned, generation after generation.

It doesn’t have to be this way. This can change. And it begins with awareness. It begins with education. It begins with us.

Let’s have that conversation now, for the greater good of our people.

Susan Sylvester-Barker is a consultant on narcissistic abuse (ttnawh@gmail.com)

Tragic domestic violence incidents spark outrage

THE deadly domestic attacks, particularly against women, have yet again drawn criticisms from several people, just two weeks after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar reaffirmed her government’s commitment to strengthening systems for families in crisis.

At the funeral of slain UNC councillor Romona Victor, 36, on November 27 in Siparia, the Prime Minister told mourners that no one should endure their pain in silence and that help must be accessible to anyone who feels unsafe.

Victor’s killer, her husband Rodney Ramsumair, 45, died by suicide. Their bodies were discovered at their home at Coora Branch Road, Siparia, on November 23.

Persad-Bissessar had said neighbours, relatives and friends must all respond with compassion.

She also said that more people should reach out for help and more should respond.

On December 9, when asked about plans in place for violence against women, considering the latest deadly attacks, she said, “I have asked the minister of gender affairs, Vandana Mohit, to tell me what they are working on in the ministry.”

She promised to share the information when she gets it.

The PM was speaking to reporters outside the Red House, Port of Spain. She also commended the minister, whom she said is doing a great job.

The latest attack involved Angel Lutchman, 42, who was killed in her home in Pranz Gardens, Claxton Bay, on December 8, by her ex-boyfriend, who later died by suicide.

She had a restraining order against her ex on-and-off boyfriend, Shazard Mohammed, 29, who lived in the same community. He is believed to have stabbed her and slit her throat.

Lutchman, the mother of two, had accepted his invitation to go out and lime the night of December 7.

Her 12-year-old son made the gruesome discovery after returning home from spending the night at a relative’s house on the morning of December 8.

Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander also spoke to reporters outside the Red House on December 9 and commented on the enforcement of restraining orders.

“I have always said that the programme does not work well. We are taking a look at it to see how best we can treat with it,” Alexander said.

Alexander acknowledged that there would be domestic situations, some of which would not come to the attention of law enforcement officers.

The former policeman added that some things happen spontaneously.

“So we need to treat with that situation and educate people as they go along, from the school level.”

A day earlier, on December 7, the body of Nicole Ovid, 56, of Romeo Street, St James, was found on a pavement after an alleged altercation with a man whom she knew.

The man later surrendered to the police.

Many people took to social media to express sympathy and criticise violence.

Political leader of the Patriotic Front Mickela Panday on December 9, via Facebook, said protecting women requires more than sympathy.

She offered condolences to Lutchman’s loved ones, adding that no family should ever have to experience such a loss.

She highlighted that in TT, too many women live in fear long before a single blow is struck.

“Coercive control, the monitoring, the threats, the financial manipulation, the isolation from friends and family, break a woman down until she doubts her own reality. Many even blame themselves,”

“And when they finally try to leave, some face the cruellest punishment of all, being separated from their own children.”

She continued that victim-blaming is automatic “in our culture.”

“We interrogate women about their choices, but we rarely interrogate men about their behaviour. The real question is, why did he choose to control, threaten, or harm her in the first place? Accountability must start where the violence starts, with the perpetrator,” Panday said.

She is an attorney and the daughter of the late former prime minister Badseo Panday.

She insisted victims deserve protection.

“But using men’s experiences as a way to minimise or dismiss the violence overwhelmingly faced by women is dangerous. We can acknowledge every victim without pretending the crisis isn’t gendered,” Panday said.

“The police must treat every report with urgency, enforce protection orders and expand the GBV Unit so women feel safe coming forward.”

She also suggested that the government increase safe houses, provide financial support for women trying to leave, strengthen and enforce laws, create rehabilitation programmes for abusers and teach healthy relationships in schools so we break this cycle for the next generation.

Autopsies for Lutchman and Ovid were expected to be done at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

Investigations are ongoing.

Hosein calls for premarital counselling amid rise in domestic violence

MINISTER of Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein has urged religious leaders to prioritise premarital counselling before couples tie the knot. He warns domestic violence remains a troubling trend even as the state moves to remove bureaucratic barriers to the issuance of marriage licences.

Hosein was speaking to more than 30 newly licensed, multi-faith marriage officers at a ceremony held at Stollmeyer’s Castle, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on December 8.

While love is the universal foundation of marriage across all religions, he said couples must also be properly prepared for its legal and social responsibilities.

“Every religion, no matter your belief or denomination, teaches one universal principle: love,” Hosein said. “God teaches us to love each other, whether you are Christian, Hindu or Muslim. But living in love is also a legal process, and that is where my ministry plays a critical role.”

Hosein said premarital counselling was especially important given the increasing prevalence of domestic violence. He reminded them they are vested with a sacred duty.

“It is an important and essential responsibility in the lives of people, both religious and non-religious, and it must be exercised with care and integrity,” he said.

He also criticised longstanding delays in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, which he said placed unnecessary burdens on individuals and religious organisations seeking marriage licences.

“I am absolutely fed up with the bureaucracy. For far too long, red tape has imposed significant burdens on citizens and religious bodies. This could not continue.”

Hosein said on assuming office in April he ordered a full review of outstanding applications for marriage officers.

“I asked for an audit. What I saw was unacceptable: one application after another sitting idle. I said this cannot happen. If people are ready and willing to serve, let us get it done.”

He blamed inter-agency conflict and outdated, paper-based systems for the delays, saying the ministry was operating in an archaic state in an age of technology.

“We are still carrying paper files from one office to another. I brought everyone around the table and said, ‘Get it done.’ That is why you are receiving your licences today.”

Marriage officers at a licence distribution ceremony, at Stollmeyer’s Castle, Port of Spain on December 8. – Photo by Angelo Marcelle

While Hosein believes the December 8 ceremony marked progress, he acknowledged many applications remain outstanding.

“This is just a handful. I still have boxes and boxes of files to go through, but we are getting it done,” he said.

He thanked Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for approving the use of Stollmeyer’s Castle for the event, describing the venue as symbolic.

“This is a fitting place where people can begin one of the most important journeys of their lives,” he said.

Hosein urged marriage officers to carry out their duties with integrity and a commitment to promoting love in society.

“I want to see a culture in TT that spreads love rather than hate. Uphold this sacred responsibility with honesty, dedication and care.”

Registrar General Karen Bridgewater commended Hosein for his “common-sense” approach to reforming the marriage licensing system, saying it has eliminated long-standing bottlenecks and improved efficiency.

She praised him for aligning responsibilities that were previously scattered across multiple departments and ministries.

Registrar General Karen Bridgewater, performs the wedding ceremony of Darryl Saunders and Rihanna John, on December 8 at Stollmeyer’s Castle, Port of Spain. – Photo by Angelo Marcelle

“There was a clear disconnect between the application for a marriage officer’s licence, the issuance of that licence, and the overall management of marriages,” Bridgewater said.

She continued, “Through a practical, common-sense approach, these processes have now been brought under one remit, improving efficiency and accountability.”

Bridgewater also reminded marriage officers they play a critical role not only in solemnising marriages but also in strengthening the nation’s social fabric.

“Marriage is the foundation of family life, and family remains the core upon which our nation is built,” she said, adding officers now serve as partners of the state in the legal solemnisation and registration of marriages.

She reaffirmed the Office of the Registrar General’s commitment to supporting marriage officers through training, guidance and oversight.

Congratulating the officers on assuming what she described as a “sacred role,” Bridgewater assured them of her office’s continued support.

“We look forward to a productive and beneficial partnership as we work together to uphold the integrity of marriage and the legal responsibilities that come with it,” she said.

Reconstructing masculinity

HAZEL THOMPSON-AHYE

I WRITE THIS as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women comes to an end, but the violence against women continues. Perhaps the state of emergency (SoE) prevented us from staging our usual march to commemorate those women who live perpetually in their private SoE. How many more must die?

Today, my heart hurts for the family of Councillor Romona Teeneal Victor, the latest domestic violence victim and I remember my client, June Edwards, who, about 40 years ago, died in similar circumstances. My client’s husband, after stabbing her, had committed suicide by drinking poison.

I had thought that the injunction granted by the court, which ordered him to leave and not re-enter the matrimonial home, would have saved her, but the law was not enough. I was inconsolable at her funeral and through my veil of tears I could see the deadpan faces of her young children, all of primary school age.

The evening before her death, as she was leaving my office, she had apologised for keeping me out so late. I had told her, “Don’t worry about me. I am worried about you.” The next morning, as I entered the office, my colleague had greeted me, saying, “Your client dead. Her husband killed her. He drank poison. He dead too.”

Since then I have told my clients to leave the home, even if they have to leave everything behind. “Just leave. Save your life.” But the reality is that some have no place to go. Others are so immobilised by fear, they cannot take that “giant step for (wo)mankind.”

Men are not beyond redemption, but they need help. I have counselled my male clients, telling them, “If it is over, it is over. You can find love again.” After I had reprimanded one for stalking his wife, he told me that I reminded him of his primary school teacher. I confessed to him that I had been a primary school teacher.

Some months later, I saw him at an event at the stadium. He hailed me out and was looking very happy, with a new lady love in tow.

One of the best compliments I received was from a very troublesome male client, who told me he had changed plenty since meeting me. He had received enough buffs. His pastor had described him as “a work in progress.” Years later, he still sends me biblical tracts to encourage me to convert to his religion.

Lawyers need to be responsible in their interaction with their clients. Once, when we had not reminded the judge to continue the injunction, a lawyer told his client that nothing prevented him from re-entering his home. His client went home and fractured his wife’s skull with a hammer. Years later, I helped that lawyer up when his relative had knocked him down outside the chamber court after their family property dispute.

Girls need to be educated and trained to recognise the signs of an abuser. Boys, too, need that type of education and training, as they, too, can fall victim to domestic abuse. Boys need to be taught that men and women are equal but different. UWI Laboratory Pre-School taught boys and girls that important principle. That training should be replicated in all pre-schools in this country.

The Domestic Violence Act has been improved over the years, but the police still do not fully recognise that domestic violence is a crime to be investigated and treated as any other crime, regardless of the lack of co-operation from the victim. When will they learn?

In memory of domestic violence victims, I am submitting for publication my calypso, Ah Reconstructing Masculinity, which I wrote in honour of Prof Eudine Barriteau, principal of UWI, Cave Hill, Barbados, when I was awarded a British Council scholarship to pursue her course in gender and development studies. She had a calligrapher design the poem, then had it framed and placed on the wall of her office. She told me that when Prof Rex Nettleford visited her office and read it, he had said how much he loved it.

Ah Reconstructing Masculinity

Ah put mih husband hard hat on

Take up he tool kit from off the ground

Ah slip on he steel-tip shoe

He say, “Way you going in true?

Dress up in that funny gear

Like you eh have better clothes to wear.”

Ah take mih son by he hand

Ah say, “Ah going to make him a man.”

Chorus

Ah reconstructing masculinity

Building a man with gender sensitivity

A man who won’t beat, won’t kill, won’t hurl obscenity

But will be kind and gentle and have empathy.

Verse

“But why you put on mih hard hat

Ah really can’t see the reason for that.”

“Dat is to protect mih brain

From all the stupid things people going be saying.

Once you try to bring about change

People like to say that you going insane

Ah going to train mih son a new way

And ah sure ah won’t make him gay.”

Chorus

Ah reconstructing masculinity

Building a man with gender sensitivity

Ah confident man, who’ll clearly understand

Best man for a job is sometimes a woman.

Verse

“Tell mih why you put on mih heavy boot

You really look like de Puss in troot.”

“De heavy boot is to stamp out

All the foolish ideas dat going about

Dat a man must show power and dominate

He must decide every woman’s fate.

Ah real man doh beat up he wife and child

But stands loving and supportive at dey side.”

Chorus

Ah reconstructing masculinity

Building a man with gender sensitivity

Who know women’s place not always in the home

Can be in the House of Representatives giving tone.

Verse

“Tell me what you want wid mih tool kit

Please tell me what you gwine do with it.”

“It have screw driver and it got pliers

To cut out the tongues of all dem liars.

Who say women don’t appreciate

Men who could cook and could make good bake.

Ah want a man who could show that he care

In a million ways without any fear.”

Chorus

Ah reconstructed masculinity

Ah proud ah mih son with gender sensitivity

He show love to he wife and to de children too

“No outside woman,” he say, “Wifey, just me and you.”

Extra verse – 2025

Trinbago reconstructed masculinity

Look around in the republic and you will see

The President is a woman sweet and kind.

The Prime Minister will buss yuh head and beat your behind.

The Opposition Leader, a female waiting in the wings

To topple the PM, she must do many things.

Is time we get a woman as minister of finance

We manage money better, so give we a chance.

Turn outrage into action

DOODNATH MAYRHOO has a message for women.

“If you are having problems in your relationship, seek counselling,” said the Siparia mayor on November 24 after visiting the family of UNC councillor Romona Victor, who died in a reported murder-suicide carried out by her husband, Rodney Ramsumair.

Said the mayor in a veiled reference to Ms Victor’s seemingly fraught circumstances, “If it’s not working, walk away. Do not live in an abusive relationship.”

But that’s easier said than done. The proof is in the reality of continued femicides.

In 2024, a total of 137 women and girls were killed every day by intimate partners, according to the UN in a statement this week. Locally, NGOs like the International Women’s Resource Network have been tracking figures which suggest dozens upon dozens of females have been horrifically killed in 2025.

It is Ms Victor today, but it was 22-year-old Candice Honore, her body stuffed into a suitcase, not long ago. It’s a deeply concerning revelation in the wake of the November 25 observance of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

This gruesome reality reflects some uncomfortable truths beyond shallow and one-sided exhortations: women’s complaints are still sometimes not treated seriously by police; when women manage, as Mr Mayrhoo pleads, to break free, they are often ruthlessly pursued by their former partners. Not even the system of protection orders, involving females bravely applying to court for redress, is foolproof.

To study this country’s history of crimes of passion involving out-of-control men is to find reason to question the old saying, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” In Trinidad and Tobago, males seem to be the ones full of deadly emotion, fury and violent tendencies.

And it matters not what sphere a woman operates within, as Ms Victor’s case graphically illustrates. She was a councillor known to many. If she could succumb, who else?

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. – File photo

The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles were moved this week to lament Ms Victor’s case. Yet, what should follow lamentation is action. This is an opportunity for both.

Ms Persad-Bissessar’s acknowledgement that people facing struggles should be free “to come forward without fear or hesitation” and should feel “supported, encouraged, and safe” is an insight that must shape government policy. That reshaping has to engage hard questions.

How do we create a better framework in which destructive attitudes and double standards are addressed? In which women are not judged for the actions of partners?

Ms Beckles’ call for a stronger legal system, expanded gender-based policing, and more robust victim support is also sensible.

Yet, none of that will matter unless the root of the problem is addressed. It starts with the tropes and attitudes being perpetuated among boys and men. Males ultimately have the biggest role to play in reshaping their beliefs.

Scotia helps domestic-violence survivors gain financial independence

The Scotiabank Foundation has deepened its partnership with the Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CADV) through the introduction of an economic empowerment initiative for women affected by domestic violence. This new programme goes beyond psychosocial support, helping survivors rebuild their lives through skills training and entrepreneurship.

In 2024, Scotiabank’s support enabled CADV to deliver vital services such as trauma counselling, legal assistance, relocation support, and back-to-school aid for families in need. Building on this impact, the Foundation has donated $120,000 to enhance CADV’s Psychosocial Services Programme with a six-month economic empowerment segment.

Fifteen survivors will receive hands-on training in garment construction and small business development, equipping them with the tools to achieve financial independence.

Participants are receiving three months of hands-on training in sewing and garment construction, followed by three months of business start-up guidance. The programme introduces essential techniques such as pattern drafting, machine operation, and garment assembly, while also teaching participants how to develop a business plan, register a business, conduct market research, manage finances, and build a marketing strategy.

Scotiabank said its commitment to CADV is rooted in action, not just support.

“Through the bank’s Empower Employee Resource Group, even greater impact is being made. Employees are actively driving change, volunteering their time and leading sensitisation workshops that spark awareness and amplify CADV’s mission to build safer, stronger communities.”

Sabrina Mowlah-Baksh, general manager, CADV, said, “We consider our partnership with Scotiabank to be a model one as there are so many layers of involvement ranging from management to its team members. The bank’s funding strategy is more than just financial, it’s developmental aimed at target populations overall well being and empowerment.

“For example, not only are the participants benefitting from the sewing course at present, but their children who accompany them while they enhance their capacity to earn and lead independent lives.”

Gayle Pazos, senior, VP and Managing Director, Scotiabank TT, highlighted the following “CADV has consistently provided a range of free support services for over 40 years. Scotiabank’s commitment to CADV is about more than giving – it is about standing with women and communities on their journey toward safety, strength, and hope. Through the added sewing and garment construction initiative, women are gaining the confidence and skills they need to rebuild their lives, rise above their circumstances, and move toward economic independence.”

Sistas Calling to bring awareness to domestic violence

DOMESTIC violence is a pervasive part of modern society. The upcoming performing arts public education production Sistas Calling TT is therapist Dr Roz Roach’s attempt to educate the public about this problem and change the psyche of the society. The event will take place at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on October 25.

Speaking at the launch of the production at NAPA on October 9, Roach said she had been researching domestic violence and working with survivors in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago since the 1980s.

“I’ve done several studies and surveys across Canada and when I ask what can help to decrease domestic violence, people say, education, education, education. The issue is changing lives, we need to change lives. We will be making noise because we want to penetrate your psyche and change it.”

Roach said she had observed that women were often stigmatised and judged for being victims of domestic violence, including being turned away by the police and their own families. She said restraining orders and attempting to leave often got people killed, but there were no safe spaces for them to go to or support for them to leave, especially for people with children.

Roach is the founder of Dr Roz’s Healing Place, a centre for empowerment and healing for women and children fleeing family violence in Canada. It has 33 beds and since its inception in 1984, it has helped over 2,000 women.

Roach said the production was dedicated to the memory of Marcia Henville, who was killed by her husband in St Augustine in January 2015. Her throat was slit and she was stabbed and set on fire at her home. Roach said a few days prior to her death, Henville had approached her on behalf of “a friend” to find out how she could leave the country.

“She asked me, ‘On behalf of a friend who is going through this abuse, what advice would you give to her?” I said, ‘Are you sure you’re not talking about yourself?’ And she said, ‘no, no, no, it’s a friend’, but I knew.

“This is what women do, because they’re ashamed to tell, they don’t want to take their business outside. They were trained to ‘keep your business at home, don’t wash your dirty linen outside of the house’, they were brainwashed into that.”

Roach said she was recently told that Henville had applied for a restraining order but not received it. She said this was another

One Caribbean Media environmental, social and governance lead Rashmi Ramsomair said there were 1,937 reported cases of domestic violence in 2024, according to the gender-based violence unit. She said up to September 27, there had already been 1,295 cases

“These figures highlight the urgent need for awareness, support and decisive action. Among those, we remember Marcia Henville, a respected journalist and colleague of ours at TV6, who tragically lost her life at the age of 51 as a victim of domestic violence in 2015. Her legacy inspires us to fight harder against this epidemic.”

She said Sistas Calling was more than a campaign, it was a movement crafted from the fabric of TT’s culture.

For more information, call 383-7174 or email sistascalling@gmail.com. Tickets are available at islandetickets.com.

[UPDATED] El Dorado residents: Man shot by police a pest

YEARS of fear and alleged abuse ended in bloodshed on July 26, when police fatally shot a man during a violent domestic incident on Lover’s Lane, El Dorado.

The deceased has been identified as 42-year-old Mustapha Rawlins, a resident of the area who neighbours say had a long history of erratic behaviour and violence.

A police statement dated July 26, the day of the incident, said officers from the North Central Division Task Force (West) responded to a domestic violence report around 1.30 pm.

Police said on arrival, officers heard screams coming from the residence and ordered Rawlins to open the door. He refused, instead barricading himself inside the house with two elderly female relatives.

Despite repeated commands to surrender, officers were met with silence until cries for help were again heard from inside.

Police said at that point, Corporal Persad and his team forced entry through a door on the eastern side of the house. Inside, Rawlins attacked and stabbed Persad multiple times with a knife.

“The other officers present came to his assistance and had cause to discharge their service weapons to disarm the suspect, who was still advancing,” police said.

Both Rawlins and Persad were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where Rawlins was pronounced dead on arrival. Persad was treated for multiple stab wounds to his abdomen and arm and was reported to be in stable condition.

The two elderly hostages were rescued unharmed and are currently receiving medical and psychological care.

When Newsday visited the neighbourhood the following day, July 27, residents expressed relief. One elderly man, who asked not to be named, said Rawlins had terrorised the community for years.

“Police were always coming by. He was always shouting, arguing, and causing trouble. It became normal,” the resident said. “That day, I heard yelling, then a loud gunshot. I figured that was when he got shot.”

The man also described how Rawlins would routinely evade police by escaping through a narrow track behind his house and jumping over a neighbour’s wall. He pointed out the route Rawlins allegedly used in past encounters.

“This man was a pest,” he added. “People in the area were afraid of him. Now we can finally breathe a little easier.”

Another resident, who claimed to be a childhood friend of Rawlins, said he believed Rawlins had mental-health issues that worsened after his father’s death. Rawlins reportedly lived in the home with the two elderly female relatives.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro, along with ACP Simon, Snr Supt Pierre, Supt Gift, ASP Bharath, W/ASP Gonzales, and Acting Insp Jagroo, visited the scene.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

This story was originally published with the title “Cop stabbed, domestic violence suspect killed in El Dorado” and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A 42-year-old domestic violence suspect was killed by police in El Dorado, after stabbing an officer several times.

In a statement, police said around 1.30pm on July 26, a team of officers from the north central division task force responded to a report of domestic violence at Lovers Lane, El Dorado.

Officers heard loud screams for help outside the home when they arrived. They asked that the door be opened several times but all requests went unanswered. The officers, led by Cpl Persad, then forcibly entered the home, when the suspect stabbed Persad with a knife several times.

The other officers assisted Persad and shot the suspect, who was still trying to stab the officer.

Both men were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where the suspect was pronounced dead. Persad remains hospitalised for stab wounds to his abdomen and arm but is in stable condition.

Nothing was said about the victim.

ASP Bharath, ASP Gonzales, Insp Jagroo and personnel of the North Central Division Crime Scene Department visited the scene in El Dorado.

Additionally, Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro paid a “welfare visit” to Persad in hospital.

Enquiries are continuing.

Women in leadership

SIMONE FRANCOIS-WHITTIER

TT has once again survived a general election. AFETT commends our society and the people who offered themselves for service and participated in this democratic process in our still very “young” nation.

It is noteworthy that for the first time in our nation’s history, we have women dominating two of the three arms of the state – President Christine Kangaloo leading the executive as the head of state and two women leading the legislature: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition leader Pennelope Beckles.

What this means for our nation and women in particular remains to be seen.

Simone Francois-Whittier, AFETT president and attorney-at-law –

These appointments, notwithstanding, and despite the significant strides in other sectors regardless of political affiliation, race, religion, class, professional and educational background, women still face several challenges that hinder their well-being, safety and empowerment in their day-to-day lives.

This column seeks to bring to your attention some of the critical needs of women in TT.

It is essential to address these issues to foster a more inclusive and equitable society.

Here are the key areas that require immediate action in our opinion:

Protection from gender-based violence (GBV)

Gender-based violence remains a pervasive issue in TT, with alarmingly high rates of domestic violence, femicide and sexual abuse.

Many cases go under-reported due to stigma and lack of trust in law enforcement.

To combat GBV effectively, we must:

· Improve enforcement of domestic violence laws.

· Expand and increase funding for shelters and support services for survivors.

· Implement gender-sensitisation training for police and judiciary personnel.

· Ensure comprehensive education on healthy relationships.

Economic empowerment and equal opportunity

While women are well represented in education and some professions, wage gaps and economic vulnerability persist, especially for single mothers and women in informal work. To promote economic empowerment, we must:

· Ensure equal pay for equal work and enforce anti-discrimination policies.

· Provide access to credit and support for women entrepreneurs.

· Offer job training programmes for non-traditional sectors such as STEM and the green economy.

· Enhance protections for informal and low-wage workers.

Sexual and reproductive health rights

Access to sexual and reproductive healthcare is inconsistent.

To uphold sexual and reproductive health rights, we must:

· Deliver comprehensive, youth-friendly and appropriate sexual education.

· Make reproductive health services affordable and accessible.

· Improve maternal health care services.

Political representation and leadership

Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in political leadership and decision-making positions at local and national levels.

We need to consider:

· Leadership training and mentorship programmes for women.

· Gender quotas or incentives for political parties.

· Addressing political violence and gendered harassment.

· Media reform to counter stereotypes in coverage of women leaders.

Social norms transformation and gender equity in education

Patriarchal norms and rigid gender roles limit opportunities and reinforce discrimination from a young age.

To transform social norms and achieve gender equity in education, we must:

· Reform curriculum to challenge gender stereotypes.

· Launch public campaigns promoting shared caregiving and respect for women’s rights.

· Develop programmes targeting men and boys.

· Invest more in early childhood development and provide support for working mothers.

Addressing these needs is not only a matter of justice but also essential for the progress and prosperity of our nation.

We urge you to take decisive action on these issues to ensure a better future for all women in TT.

Acting CoP urges action on domestic violence after Mayaro suicide

ACTING Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin is urging the public to report any signs of domestic violence, as he stressed the importance of proactive policing, particularly when it comes to following up on protection orders.

His comments come in the wake of a deadly domestic dispute on May 30 in Mayaro, which resulted in the death of a man and injuries to his wife and son.

Benjamin spoke to Newsday via phone on June 1 and confirmed the matter remained under investigation. He referenced ongoing police efforts, particularly through the Victim and Witness Support Unit, and stressed the need for stronger community engagement and early intervention to prevent similar tragedies.

The incident occurred around 9.30 am when 55-year-old Larry Neaves reportedly had an argument with his 52-year-old wife, accusing her of infidelity. Neaves then attacked her with a cutlass.

The couple’s 21-year-old son witnessed the assault and attempted to intervene but was also injured. Both mother and son managed to escape with the help of neighbours.

Neaves later returned inside the house, and shortly after, the structure caught fire. His charred remains were later found on a bed frame. Authorities believe he died by suicide. The house was completely destroyed.

Both the mother and son were taken to the Mayaro Health Centre, and the woman was later transferred to Sangre Grande Hospital for further treatment.

Asked whether police had received prior reports of domestic violence from the household, Benjamin said he was unsure. However, he reiterated the importance of sustained follow-up by officers.

“Coming out of this case, as well as others from last year, we are encouraging regional commanders to follow up on protection orders, visit victims, and check on their well-being. There may be unresolved issues: if identified early, they could allow us to take proactive steps to prevent future incidents.”

On police outreach efforts, Benjamin noted the Victim and Witness Support Unit was active but said it was in need of “more attention.” He also discussed the importance of community involvement.

“I encourage neighbours to report any signs of domestic violence. Once we are informed, we can act. Everyone has a responsibility. If you see or hear something, say something.”

Benjamin said when police were alerted to abuse, officers did their best to assist victims. He also highlighted ongoing police initiatives, including walkabouts during which officers distributed informational flyers about available support services and self-protection strategies.

“Our goal is to help people recognise the signs of domestic violence early and empower them to protect themselves so they can become hard targets and avoid becoming victims.”

Paray: Community in shock

Also on June 1, former Mayaro MP Rushton Paray condemned the incident, describing it as truly horrifying. In a statement, Paray said he was left heartbroken by the tragedy.

“This is not just a headline: it happened right here in our village. These are our neighbours, our families. Tonight, a community sits in shock, trying to make sense of an act of violence that should never have happened.”

Calling domestic violence a growing crisis in Trinidad and Tobago, Paray urged a national response that went beyond offering thoughts and prayers.

“We need serious intervention. Victims must have access to safe spaces, mental-health support, and fast police response, especially in rural communities like ours,” Paray said.

He also called on the Ministry of Homeland Security and the Ministry of Social Development to urgently send outreach and counselling services to the Mayaro district.

“Our residents deserve more than reactive statements. We need real investment in community protection. I also urge the police service to prioritise domestic violence cases and strengthen its presence in Mayaro. Too often, these tragedies follow warning signs that go unanswered.”

To residents, he made a final plea.

“If you see abuse, report it. Don’t wait for another house to go up in flames before we act. This was a preventable loss. Let us not stay silent.”

When Newsday visited Mayaro on May 31, residents expressed shock, with one man saying, “I lime with him (deceased man) just yesterday, and I’m in shock to read what happened.”

Attempts to reach the head of the police’s Child Protection Unit and Gender-Based Violence Unit, AG Supt Michelle Rowley-Powder, were unsuccessful. Newsday also tried calling Mayaro MP and parliamentary secretary Nicholas Morris, but his calls went to voice-mail.

Anyone who needs help or thinks about harming themselves can call Lifeline (24-hour hotline) at 800-5588, 866- 5433 or 220-3636.

In case of an emergency (attempted suicide), people can call 990, 811 or 999.

Ex-WPC vindicated after charges for reporting domestic dispute with fellow officer

A former woman police constable who reported her fellow officer and partner for domestic violence has won a malicious prosecution lawsuit against the state after the court found she was wrongfully charged for wasting the police’s time.

In a ruling on May 23, Justice Carol Gobin held that the police officers who investigated their colleague’s report “ignored stark aspects” of evidence supporting her allegations against her former partner.

“The approach of the police confirmed the abuser’s disdainful view of the domestic violence order, that it was just a piece of paper, it meant nothing.

“This is hardly the message the police are expected to endorse. Egregiously, the abuser was not held to account while the victim who had made a report of his abuse was charged with an offence when there was no jurisdiction for doing so and when, as I have found, it was actuated by malice,” Gobin said as she awarded the claimant $205,000 in damages, which included $130,000 in general and aggravated damages and $75,000 in exemplary damages.

According to the evidence, the claimant and her partner, both police officers, shared a home in Malabar, Arima, until she left in December 2015 after reporting several threats and assaults. She claimed her partner, who is also the father of their son, threatened to “wipe out” her family and made threats to shoot her. A “keep in view” notice was issued for her partner so that he would not be issued a firearm, and the judge noted this could only have been done after an investigation and assessment.

In December 2015, he allegedly choked and dragged her to the ground. She fled home with her son and applied for a protection order in early 2016, which was granted in May 2017.

She chose to return to her home since she was close to retirement and could no longer afford to rent, and the evidence said her ex-partner called a superior officer, threatening to kill her and himself as the relationship could not be reconciled. A month later, she met padlocked gates and called the Malabar police for intervention, but they “refused to get involved.” With legal advice and assistance from a relative, the locks to the gate and the bedroom where she and her son stayed were cut.

The next day, she was told by Sgt Lyndon Mascall to go to the Malabar police station for an interview. She did and again in July, but the judge pointed out that at no time did Mascall tell her she was a suspect or that he was considering a charge.

In December 2017, she was served with a summons on Mascall’s complaint laid in October. Between January 2018 to May 2019, she attended court until the matter was discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Although the state sought to defend the prosecution, the judge held that the charge was based on a complaint so defective it was “a nullity,” and that the prosecution lacked both reasonable and probable cause, core requirements for laying criminal charges.

“The specific factors identified by Sgt Mascall to support his claim of reasonable and probable cause did not justify his conclusions; rather, they raised serious questions about why the claimant was charged.

“I am not persuaded that it was to secure the ends of justice. In the circumstances, I find too that the prosecution could only be accounted for by imputing an indirect improper motive to discourage the claimant from involving the police and securing their assistance in her efforts to return to her home and essentially deterring her from repeatedly reporting his aggressive behaviour.

“It was meant to send a clear message that they did not believe her and that if she insisted on going back to the home, she could not count on them for protection.

“I have not arrived at this finding lightly and wish to make clear that I have not found actual malice in the sense of spite or ill will toward the claimant, but an improper motive which arose as a result of a lack of sensitivity and sympathy to the claimant’s predicament, stereotyping the victim as the one to blame,” the judge said.

In a scathing judgment, the judge noted that the inclusion of language suggesting the claimant “provoked” a breach of a domestic violence order revealed a troubling bias, one that blamed the victim rather than protecting her.

“The law does not pander to the moods and volatility of abusers,” the judge stressed.

She also added, “A sergeant of police who was the investigator and complainant must have been sufficiently qualified to look at the statutory provisions which he did, get the fundamentals right and identify the breaches of the law. He had access to legal counsel in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. He could not have had reasonable cause to lay this charge.”

As she detailed the evidence, Gobin also held that Sgt Mascall could not have “honestly believed that it would serve the ends of justice to lay the charge.”

She also held, “There was an improper motive which had the effect of protecting the abuser while blaming the victim,” the judge stated, adding that the police responses reflected “a lack of sensitivity and sympathy” toward the claimant’s situation.

The judge ordered exemplary damages in recognition of the injury to the claimant’s reputation and the police’s failure to uphold their responsibilities under the Domestic Violence Act.

“I have taken into account the injury to the claimant’s feelings and reputation, which would have been exacerbated not only by the fact that she was a police officer who had had no adverse report during her career, but by the shame of being charged for wasting the employment of the police as an officer.

“The irony must have been deeply painful and humiliating,” the judge said.

She added, “The officers demonstrated no sensitivity to the reality of domestic violence and behaviours of victims and abusers. They ignored the statutory mandate imposed under Section 21(1) of the Domestic Violence Act.”

“More often than not, there are no options for victims to leave, even when there are prolonged episodes of abuse.

“The police are not allowed after three encounters even on one day to just get fed up and say ‘don’t call us’ or worse to charge with wasting the employment of the police.

“The mandate to respond in the circumstances is not limited to simply turning up. It requires making meaningful enquiries with an open mind and offering assistance to protect victims. It contemplates sensitivity on matters of domestic violence, sympathy and an understanding of the dynamics of the relationship of victim and abuser.

“It requires the police to free their minds of a tendency to stereotype victims.”

Gobin said while officers showed up to respond to emergency calls, they failed to conduct a proper investigation and were “not even-handed and unbiased.”

“The evidence on the whole established that the police were selective in the matters which they chose to highlight coming out of their investigations, which they believed would undermine the claimant’s claim, while they ignored stark aspects which supported her allegations.”

In condemnation of the police’s actions, the judge also said, “Instead of enforcing the (protection) order, they concerned themselves with matters irrelevant to its terms. They embarked on an investigation, which was misguided by the notion that the claimant who had fled because of violence was not entitled to return to her home even with a protection order.

“After the third interaction with police at her home, she was warned that if she went back inside the gate, not call the Malabar police. There shall be judgment for the claimant.”

Attorneys Abdel Mohammed and Shania Sinanan represented the ex-WPC, while Tricia Ramlogan, Vandana Ramadhar and Domonique Bernard represented the state.

Williamsville man sentenced for killing of wife in 2012

A Williamsville man who killed his wife in 2012 after confronting her about an affair will serve three more years in prison after receiving a 20-year sentence.

Roger Sewlal was sentenced by Justice Hayden St Clair-Douglas after accepting a plea agreement with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, allowing him to plead guilty to murder based on provocation.

The judge deducted 13 years and four months for his guilty plea and credited him for the decade he spent in remand, leaving him with three years and one month to serve with hard labour.

Sewlal, who was arrested more than two years after the killing, was charged with the October 1, 2012, murder of his wife, Shanti, at Esmeralda Branch Road. The 31-year-old mother of two was stabbed multiple times in her chest and arms.

According to the evidence, Sewlal had breached a protection order when he entered Shanti’s home that night. Their two children, then 12 and nine, were present. The younger child recalled hearing his mother plead, “Roger, doh do this nah, please,” before she screamed. The couple’s daughter saw Sewlal holding her mother down and repeatedly stabbing her. She ran to a neighbour’s house for help, screaming.

Shanti’s father, alerted by his granddaughter’s cries, saw his daughter run naked to the garage with a knife lodged in her chest, bleeding from her mouth. She collapsed and died seconds later.

Sewlal fled, later telling police at Vessigny Beach in La Brea, where he was captured two years later, that he was “fed up” running. He claimed Shanti had approached him with a knife after he confronted her about her alleged affair.

His attorneys, Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Michael Rooplal, argued that Sewlal acted out of a loss of self-control upon learning of his wife’s infidelity, catching her in the act in his home and a claim that she told him he was not the father of their children. A psychiatric report indicated he suffered from Post-Infidelity Stress Disorder.

Sewlal’s lawyers admitted there were aggravating factors in the case, including his use of a weapon, breach of a court order, premeditation, and the presence of his children. However, they urged the court to consider Shanti’s “provoking words and acts” and Sewlal’s remorse.

In their submissions, the defence attorneys said the evidence showed he was acting out of a loss of self-control. They also referred to evidence from Shanti’s lover, giving sordid details of their relationship.

The attorneys admitted while gender-based violence and domestic violence were serious issues, they submitted that Sewlal’s mental health should not be overlooked.

“Men’s mental health continues to face social stigmas and other barriers to adequate treatment. Infidelity and its psychological impact have notably been considered as an issue which leads to the deterioration of one’s mental health.

“Consequently, this leads to extreme emotional and psychological responses.”

Sewlal will complete his remaining sentence in prison with hard labour, starting from the date of his sentence on March 12.

State attorney Tricia Samuel prosecuted.

Young vows to protect women from domestic violence

PRIME MINISTER DESIGNATE Stuart Young pledged to protect women from abuse, addressing a function on March 7 at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, to mark International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8.

On top of such policies and actions to curb domestic violence, he also planned to support women more generally in their lives.

Young also used the occasion to pay tribute to his mother who was present, while saying he would not engage in shallow conversations about where he came from, but would instead just smile.

He attested, “I am a living product first-hand of the benefit of a strong woman in a household and someone who put the children first and her husband first.”

Young said he understood that not everyone nowadays has that benefit.

He said, “The Government is focused in the last ten years on doing what we can to bring more levels of equality, more levels of equity and more levels of parity, to ensure our women are provided a safer space, to shine and to excel in positions.”

Young said the government he hopes to lead would have as one of its cornerstone the enactment policies and practices to help women to access support and people to speak to.

“You see domestic violence both with intimate partners and non-intimate partners, we are going to tackle that scourge frontally.”

He vowed to ask the Opposition for its support to increase the penalties and sentencing on those who commit these heinous acts on women.

Young said domestic violence happens at all level of this society.

“I am a strong believer that we as a society must stand up and let the persons who are committing these acts against our women and children know that we are not accepting it. So if I know that is how you behave don’t come and hold out your hand for me to shake because I am not accepting it.

“It is one of the first things we will do. Also providing more protection when women take the first step of getting protection orders and not letting it just be a piece of paper, that is something I also intend to focus on.”

He said society needs to move with the government’s new policies.

He alluded to finding ways to help mentally assist perpetrators of abuse, to curb the scourge of domestic violence.

“I don’t hold my head in the sand and think that just by implementing laws it is going to offer protection.

“I understand that many times the perpetrators of these heinous acts, it is because mentally they don’t have the wherewithal to handle the situations.

“And that is not an excuse for them. But we must find ways to assist, because that is the only way we will really begin to deal with this awful scourge that is not only creeping but creeping a bit too fast for my liking in our society.”

Young said in some areas he represents in Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West, he sees young mothers going through struggles, and reckoned that they could benefit from support such as people trained in psychology and psychiatry.

Saying TT has many graduates in psychology, he promised to ask Cabinet to support a programme to start offering more professional help across the country.

“I understand the difference that can have and will make to our society. That is a commitment I give.

“It is going to be very focused. We have built the right foundation.”

Young said the country was now in a period where citizens had some serious decisions to make, alluding to the upcoming general election.

He asked listeners to take TT to the next level, from its current extremely strong foundation.

“But it cannot be done unless our women continue to take those leadership roles at whatever level in society.”

He gave his personal commitment to do his best to allocate adequate resources to this end.

“We have decisions to make in the next few months.”

He asked voters to reflect on whose actions had spoken loudest in recent years.

“Look at the political landscape and see how MPs are treated on both sides of the aisle and in particular our female MPs.”

He asked voters to see who is just giving lip service for a particular moment, as against who was genuinely prepared to walk the talk to ensure women were respected and given support and opportunities for leadership.

Young then paid tribute to former MP for D’Abadie/O’Meara Lisa Morris-Julian who died on December 16, 2024, in a fire at her Arima home alongside her son and daughter.

“We will continue the work she wanted for TT.”

Earlier, he said he was proud as a Trinbagonian man, to look around the room and see a cross-section of society comprised of women who were “strong, independent, vibrant, intelligent backbones of our society.”

Young said in the past ten years women had taken their place in the leadership of TT.

“We have led by action and we have shown that this is not just talk and this is not just a PR exercise.

“We were the first to have, quite rightly, the head of our State being a powerful woman (Paula Mae-Weekes) and then succeeded by our current head of State, another powerful woman (Christine Kangaloo, who was former president of the Senate.)”

He saluted Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George and Leader of the House of Representatives Camille Robinson-Regis.

“In the public service, you look around and it is being led, I am certain, at the permanent secretary level and heads of division level and all of the leadership levels, there are more of our women in place and in posts than our men. I salute TT for leading throughout the world.”

Young said wealthy, developed countries are striving to get at least a certain minimum number of women in top positions.

“When those reports come to Cabinet, I smile because TT is already one of the leading countries in the world in that sector and in that measurement.”

CADV laments domestic violence murders even in SoE

AMID the state of emergency, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Coalition against Domestic Violence (CADV) has highlighted the ongoing crisis of domestic violence including the arson attack that claimed the life of three-year-old Jereem George.

On January 23, Jereem was burnt to death at the family’s home at Windy Hill in Arouca. His mother and her four other children managed to get out. A male relative is in custody for allegedly deliberately setting the house ablaze.

A media statement from CADV on January 30 offered condolences and messages to the boy’s relatives. The statement said, indeed, it appeared that the suspect attempted to kill everyone in the house.

CADV also mourned the death of Sunita Ram, 56, who was shot dead by her husband who then turned the gun on himself at the family’s home in Hardbargain, Williamsville.

“Just recently, statistics from Supt Rowley-Powder, head of the police Special Victims Unit, indicated that every 11 days in this country, a woman is killed by someone with whom she had a relationship,” the statement said.

“We know that other family members are killed in acts of domestic violence reprisals. In her report, Supt Rowley-Powder also spoke to the limited use of criminal law.”

The statement added that few perpetrators, especially men, are prosecuted.

“Diligent investigation, prosecution, psychoeducational intervention and appropriate punishment send a clear message of zero tolerance for domestic violence,” CADV said.

“It is only when we have that clear message which comes through co-ordinated actions of the public authorities will we start to prevent this most prevalent form of harm.”

The NGO was unclear whether domestic violence was a known issue in the two families.

CADV renewed calls for the government to thoroughly investigate domestic violence murders to understand whether and where the system failed to protect adequately.

“The findings of such inquiries can guide in making improvements so that people who are at risk get the timely protection they need, and persons who have lethal intent are identified as soon as possible and treated in such a way that they cannot carry out their murderous intentions,” the statement said.

“Men who kill or attempt to kill their partners, usually threaten many times first. These are, therefore, preventable murders.”

CADV criticised a Trinidad Express editorial dated January 26, saying it seemed to suggest that avoiding being killed is the victim’s responsibility.

The NGO rejected that editorial saying no one who works with victims and perpetrators will agree to such a stance.

CADV added, “Surely, we know enough to make sure that the advice we give responds to the realities of our society and also centres the accountability of perpetrators rather than blaming victims.”

Abuse is not love

THE EDITOR: Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive, controlling behaviour that is a pervasive, life-threatening crime affecting people in all communities, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, social standing, immigration status.

Abuse can look and feel different in every relationship, but it is always about the control one person exerts over another.

Domestic violence takes many forms: physical, emotional, economic, stalking, harassment, sexual.

TT, abuse is not love. Are we clear?

AV RAMPERSAD

Princes Town

Minister urges people affected by gender-based violence to seek help

A government minister has expressed deep sorrow over reports of violence against women and children, particularly the recent tragic deaths of a three-year-old boy in Arouca and a mother of two in Williamsville.

A statement on January 27 from Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister with responsibility for Gender and Child Affairs, urged people to seek help.

“My sympathies are with the families of Sunita Ram and Jareem George as they mourn the untimely loss of their loved ones.

“I felt much dismay and a heavy heart upon learning that they were reportedly victims in separate cases of gender-based violence (GBV),” the statement said.

“In light of these heartbreaking incidents, it is clear that our women and children continue to be targets of domestic violence. As a nation, we must stand together and say no to all forms of violence, both on the individual and community levels.”

On January 23, Jareem was killed in the family’s home at Windy Hill, Arouca, after a man set the house ablaze. The boy’s three siblings and his mother managed to escape. The suspect is on the run from the police.

On the night of January 26, Ram, 56, of Harbargain, was shot dead by her husband, 65, who turned the gun on himself.

The minister urged everyone who had been affected by GBV to seek help. She added that by doing that, it could put a stop to all forms of abuse.

She reminded the country that there were avenues of support available.

“If anyone’s life is in danger or threatened, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-SAVE (7283), the police at 999, the Victim and Witness Support Unit of the police service at 612-0301 extension 13552-13554) or the HIV Helpline at 800-4448.

“For support on matters of child abuse, people can call the Children’s Authority Hotline at 996 or 800-2014 or Childline at 131 or 800-4321.”

To access available support services for men and boys, people can email to mens.bureau@gov.tt.

AG: Silence, non-compliance affecting domestic violence matters

ATTORNEY General Reginald Armour says a culture of silence and non-compliance with orders issued by the court are affecting efforts to properly address domestic violence.

He was responding to a matter on the adjournment of the Senate on January 21.

“We have in TT the Domestic Violence Act, which has been amended from time to time, which is a very comprehensive piece of legislation.”

Armour said laws needed to evolve and be improved continuously over time to address changing circumstances. But the challenges society faces in addressing domestic laws is not inadequate or deficient laws, or whether or not the police respond to domestic violence complaints.

Armour identified one challenge as the culture of silence.

“People turn a blind eye, or people prefer to turn a blind eye, to the scourge of domestic violence, and we have to fix that.”

Another challenge is compliance with court orders.

Armour said the Family Court and the Children Court have been working very hard to deal with domestic violence matters.

After identifying protection orders issued by either court as a means of directing applicants (victims), respondents (abusers) and children to receive counselling from approved people or programmes in domestic violence cases, Armour said compliance with such orders is challenging.

From January 2023-November 2024, the Family Court issued orders to 1,336 people to be referred to its social services unit for intervention such as counselling psychotherapy and psychological evaluations.

This included 605 applicants, 503 respondents and 188 children.

Armour said of this number, 697 people (89 children, 310 applicants and 307 respondents) did not fully comply with the court’s orders.

He added a similar pattern was seen during the same period with respect to orders issued by the Children Court.

Armour said efforts are being made to ensure these people comply with court orders such as involving social workers and probation officers to document instances of non-compliance.

Beaten Chaguanas woman, 81, dies at hospital

AN elderly woman, who was beaten by a close male relative over the weekend in Chaguanas, has died in hospital.

The police confirmed that Gangadaye Manichan, 81, of Endeavour, died on January 6 at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope.

The relative appeared before a master in the High Court on January 6, charged with wounding with intent. He was denied bail and remanded into custody at the St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital for an evaluation.

Manichan and another female relative were attacked at the family’s home on January 4. Both were taken for medical care.

Now that the elderly woman has died, investigators said the wounding charge could be upgraded to murder.

An autopsy is expected to be done at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

The Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region Three, police have been notified of the death.

Investigations are ongoing.

Two-time wife killer jailed for 27 years

THE brutal, heinous and callous killing of his wife earned a 27-year sentence for a Barrackpore lorry driver who had also killed his previous wife.

However, Ramesh “Blood” Sieunarine will serve a term of 13 years, five months and 22 days for killing his common-law wife Tricia Ramsaran–Ramdass on June 9, 2020. This was the sentence he was left with after receiving discounts for his guilty plea and the time he has already spent in prison awaiting trial.

Justice Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds sentenced him, accepting a plea-agreement deal with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions which allowed him to plead guilty to manslaughter based on provocation.

He was initially charged with Ramsaran-Ramdass’s murder. According to the judge’s sentencing ruling, Sieunarine killed Ramsaran-Ramdass in a drunken stupor during an argument about her fidelity.

“The papers suggest that he killed this wife because he couldn’t bear to visualise that she had performed fellatio on some other man.

“With all due respect, courts must signal a strong message to all persons in society that women cannot be killed simply because they wish to exercise sexual autonomy.

“If the relationship is no longer a loving, committed and thriving one, the aggrieved party is free to leave and move on. The statistics suggest that we are not meeting the deterrent effect,” Ramsumair-Hinds acknowledged.

Ramsaran-Ramdass was strangled to death and also suffered head trauma during an argument with Sieunarine at their Sukhan Trace, Barrackpore, home.

The judge rejected his entreaty that his behaviour was caused by his abuse of alcohol as a coping mechanism for his stress. While acknowledging that “alcoholism is a disease and can be a maladaptive coping mechanism for the stressors of life,” she said when it “results in family violence and even extreme acts of violence, I cannot, in the circumstances of this prisoner, countenance it as a mitigating factor.”

She also considered his previous conviction for the unlawful killing of a previous wife in 2006, for which he was put on a bond.

“I am of the view that the conviction for unlawfully killing a previous wife was particularly aggravating. I accept that the prisoner successfully mitigated the loss of self-control involved in the killing of that previous wife, such that he was placed on a bond.

“Respectfully though, at what point do we draw a line and colloquially say, ‘Once is a mistake, but twice is a habit’? This is the second wife to die by strangulation at this prisoner’s hands, and his explanation is the same – ‘She provoked me to kill her.’

“I looked closely at the circumstances. The trigger involved in the provocation by the first wife he killed had to do with that woman’s attempt to kill his young son. As I said, the sentencing court at that time was persuaded by the weight of that mitigating factor.
“But what is his complaint this time?

“The papers suggest that he killed this wife because he couldn’t bear to visualise that she had performed fellatio on some other man…” the judge said.

She also said it would be “unconscionable” to order a conditional release or impose a non-custodial sentence, despite his surrendering to police after killing Ramsaran-Ramdass and confessing.

“The deceased was the common-law wife of the prisoner. This aggravating factor included considerations of gender-based violence and femicide; the deceased’s body was found completely nude at the back of their home; both the body and face bore marks of violence, which is evident in the photographs; and the post-mortem certificate revealed that the deceased died of asphyxia, manual strangulation and blunt force to the head,” were the aggravating factors the judge considered in her sentencing.

Sieunarine was represented by Chimere Gibson-Wadi and Aleena Ramjag of the Public Defenders Department. Charmaine Samuel and Guiliana Guy represented the State.

C&W joins global efforts for 16 Days of Activism

C&W Communications, the operators of Flow, Flow Business, C&W Business and BTC, has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering gender equality and supporting efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV) as it joined the global movement for the UN’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Marking the world’s approach to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, the 16 Days of Activism provide a powerful opportunity to reinvigorate commitments, call for accountability and drive meaningful action to address violence against women and girls, said a media release.

“We believe every individual has the right to live and work in a safe environment, free from violence and fear,” said Inge Smidts, CEO of C&W Communications.

“Tragically, we’ve lost colleagues to acts of gender-based violence in recent years, a loss that has deeply affected us all. These heartbreaking events have only strengthened our resolve to take meaningful action.”

Launched by parent company Liberty Latin America, the company introduced a comprehensive GBV policy which delivers help to affected employees, including counselling and, in extreme cases, relocation to another country for their safety and well-being.

“Our commitment extends beyond raising awareness; it is about taking real, actionable steps to protect, empower and create safe spaces for everyone, particularly women and girls, within our communities and workplaces. Together, we can drive the change needed to eliminate violence and foster equality for generations to come,” said Smidts.

Through a range of impactful initiatives, C&W Communications has engaged employees, customers and partners to raise awareness, promote advocacy, and support survivors of gender-based violence across the Caribbean, the release said.

“As we stand alongside the UN and global advocates during these 16 Days of Activism, we recommit to empowering women and girls, addressing gender inequality, and offering unwavering support to our team members and communities impacted by gender-based violence,” added Smidts.

Gender-based violence remains a pervasive issue worldwide, with devastating effects on individuals and communities. According to UN Women, one in three women globally has experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, a statistic that has remained unchanged over the last decade. Alarmingly, more than 38 per cent of women murdered globally are killed by their intimate partners, the release said.

In the Caribbean, the statistics are equally concerning. Studies reveal that women in the region face some of the highest rates of intimate partner violence globally, and Unicef highlights that one in four girls in the Caribbean has been subjected to sexual abuse before the age of 18.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence are observed annually between November 25 and December 10.