Society failed Kissoon by not providing support to deal with allegation of sexual harassment – Red Thread

In a stirring letter to the press, the locally and internationally recognised women’s organisation, Red Thread has added its voice to the unfolding incident of alleged sexual harassment by People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Party Leader Aubrey Norton against Party member Vanessa Kissoon.

The organisation said it condemns every act of sexual violence against every woman, girl, boy, man, child, person. It also condemns the inaction of leaders and persons Kissoon told her story to for many years. According to the organisation, these persons failed Kissoon by not giving her the support she needed to deal with Norton’s illegal and disgusting behaviour.

The law is supposed to be there for everyone, and we call on all relevant authorities to investigate this issue and if Mr. Norton is found guilty, we expect to see justice being served, the organisation stated.

“Sexual threat is an offence and should be dealt with in accordance with the law. We cannot allow this to continue, and yet we see this happening again and again. Our so-called leaders and the people with power – on BOTH sides of the political divide – have to be made to stop behaving as though they are above the law. Perpetrators of sexual offences must be dealt with accordingly.”

The organisation applauds Kissoon for standing up to Norton in the face of Norton’s alleged threats and with a gun. Had Kissoon cowered at the sight of the gun, Red Thread said, perhaps she would have been a victim of not only sexual threats but also rape.  The organisation warned too many women have fallen prey to this kind of violence and are afraid for a lot of reasons to speak out and up about it.  “We hope that many other women would find strength to expose their abusers.”

Why now?

Turning attention to those who question why now, the organisation says those persons should walk a mile in Kissoon’s shoes then they might understand. Regardless of how vociferous or how outspoken survivors of violence might be in general, it is not easy to talk about sexual violence and rape, and it is not easy to act immediately, the women’s organisation said.

Going further, the organisation notes in instances like these when persons stand to face abuse, accusations that “they are lying, that you asked for it, that you are a scorned woman seeking revenge, that it was consensual, that you are mentally ill, that you are trying to take a big man down, that you are trying to extort someone.” Noting the attacks on Kissoon, Red Thread,  “just look at some of the responses, including shamefully by other women, to Vanessa Kissoon. Just look at some of the responses a few weeks ago to the courageous.”

The organisation is calling on call on people to stop the victim blaming, stop focusing on what Kissoon should have done and focus on the issue at hand, which is the allegation against Norton. “That is what we need to deal with because this should not be allowed to continue.”

At the same time the organisation has commended those party members who have stepped up to call for a full and impartial investigation into these allegations against Norton. It has also called on other party members and supporters to stop playing politics with people’s lives and wellbeing. “We cannot turn a blind eye to wrongdoing. Wrong is wrong regardless of which foot the shoe is on.”

Last Wednesday, Party Leader Aubrey Norton in a video recording post said allegation of sexual harassment towards Vanessa Kissoon by him is “false and malicious.” He called on Kissoon and Linden Mayor Sharma Solomon to speak out on the issue lest they be seen as complicit to the alleged falsification.

Whilst Solomon continues to maintain his silence, Kissoon spoke out. She said what Norton has stated she travelled in his car and under what she considered to be a threat to use a firearm which he had in his possession and showed to her stating “If I put this to your head and rape you, what would you do?”

See letter below

Dear Editor,

Red Thread condemns every act of sexual violence against every woman, girl, boy, man, child, person. We read with disgust of the allegations of sexual threats against Mr. Aubrey Norton, leader of the People’s National Congress, towards Ms.  Vanessa Kissoon who is also a leading member in that political party. Sexual threat is an offence and should be dealt with in accordance with the law. We cannot allow this to continue, and yet we see this happening again and again. Our so-called leaders and the people with power – on BOTH sides of the political divide – have to be made to stop behaving as though they are above the law. Perpetrators of sexual offences must be dealt with accordingly.

We applaud Ms. Kissoon for standing up to Mr. Norton in the face of his alleged threats and with a gun. Had she cowered at the sight of the gun, perhaps she would have been a victim of not only sexual threats but also rape.  Too many women have fallen prey to this kind of violence and are afraid for a lot of reasons to speak out and up about it.  We hope that many other women would find strength to expose their abusers.

We also condemn the inaction of the leaders and persons Ms. Kissoon might have told her story to for many years. You have failed her by not giving her the support she needed to deal with Mr. Norton’s illegal and disgusting behaviour. The law is supposed to be there for everyone and we call on all relevant authorities to investigate this issue and if Mr. Norton is found guilty, we expect to see justice being served.

To the people who are saying that Ms. Kissoon took too long to make this public, we suggest that when you would have walked a mile in her shoes, then you might understand. Regardless of how vociferous or how outspoken survivors of violence might be in general, it is not easy to talk about sexual violence and rape, and it is not easy to take action immediately.

Especially when you stand to face abuse, accusations that you are lying, that you asked for it, that you are a scorned woman seeking revenge, that it was consensual, that you are mentally ill, that you are trying to take a big man down, that you are trying to extort someone. Just look at some of the responses, including shamefully by other women, to Vanessa Kissoon. Just look at some of the responses a few weeks ago to the courageous young woman who came forward with the most recent allegations of rape against Mr. Nigel Dharamlall.

We call on people and our citizens of Guyana to stop the victim blaming, stop focusing on what Ms. Kissoon should have done and focus on the issue at hand, which is the allegation against Mr. Aubrey Norton. That is what we need to deal with because this should not be allowed to continue.  We commend those party members who have stepped up to call for a full and impartial investigation into these allegations against Mr. Aubrey Norton, and we call on other party members and supporters to stop playing politics with people’s lives and wellbeing. We cannot turn a blind eye to wrongdoing. Wrong is wrong regardless of which foot the shoe is on.

How much longer will cases of sexual threats be swept under the carpet because of the status of the perpetrators?

How much longer will the so-called big men be allowed to escape scrutiny and continue to abuse women with impunity?

We encourage Ms. Kissoon to make a formal report to the police and to assure you that we will be in full support of your call for justice.

Yours truly,

Joy Marcus

Halima Khan

Susan Collymore

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