Georgetown, February 23, 2025 – The Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) movement is deeply saddened and outraged over the most recent news report of a man fatally shooting his partner following a domestic dispute. As the nation celebrates its 55th Republic Anniversary, this heinous act of violence is a reminder of the pervasive threat that women and girls in Guyana continue to face and the systemic failures that enable their endangerment.
Further, this tragic incident underscores the urgent need for stricter and stronger enforcement of laws aimed at the protection and prevention of gender based violence. The ALP extends its heartfelt condolences to the victim’s children, family, friends and by extension the community during this difficult time. Further, we wish to reiterate our strongest condemnation of violence against women and girls and reaffirm our commitment to fight for the dignity, justice and rights of our women and girls.
The ALP firmly believes that the protection of women and girls is paramount for a fair, inclusive and prosperous Guyana. We condemn the continued normalisation of abuse in our society and commit to advocate for:
● Stricter enforcement of the existing laws to ensure that there is a zero-tolerance response to gender based violence reports. Perpetrators must face the full force of the law if we want to prevent reoccurrence.
● Increased funding for support services to ensure adequate resources are accessible at shelters, counselling services, and legal aid for victims of gender based violence.
● Reform the legal system to ensure loopholes in the laws are closed, including stricter gun ownership regulations, and implement policies that address the root causes of gender based violence.
● Promote education and awareness on a national level to challenge toxic gender norms and stereotypes to break the cycle of violence and promote healthy relationships.
The ALP pledges to fight for gender equality and justice and calls on law enforcement and civil society to join us in dismantling the structures that perpetuate gender based violence and build a Guyana where the dignity and rights of our women and girls are upheld. The ALP also calls on the government to uphold the laws and policies that exist to protect our women and girls to prevent the scourge of gender based violence.
ALP – Advocating for our women and girls. #agoodchange
