How many more women have to be massacred before Government acts?

Another day. Another dark day. Another senseless death. Another life snatched. With yet another woman gunned down at the hands of a savage beast. And so we question. When will these brutal murders end? When will this installed government act? When will Dr. Vindhya Persaud devise substantive policies and initiatives to end this deadly epidemic? For undeniably, it’s an epidemic.

An epidemic which demands urgent social, legislative and judicial attention. Urgent and immediate intervention. So, reflect we must. But even as we reflect, we dare to enquire. Why is it always our women? Women of poverty. Women of mental burden. Women of disability. Women of wealth. Women of education. None are excluded. None are exempted. All falling victims to these barbaric men.

Thus, the painful statistics we explore.

• 2024 saw 12 women murdered in Guyana, by their intimate partners.
• Guyana represents the Caribbean highest, with 8.8 femicides per 100,000.
• 40% of women in Guyana had experienced domestic violence.
• 35% of all women murdered is by an intimate partner.
• Globally, one woman is murdered every 10 minutes, by her intimate partner.

And this murder evidenced such a case. A case of yet another femicide. A case which captured Oswain Sandy. A murderer in uniform. An army captain who committed the most heinous of acts. Most heinous of acts, on victim Reona Payne.

A victim who committed the indictable offence of arguing. Simply standing her ground. Immovable she was. So immovable she became. As he targeted her head. Exploding her brain onto the asphalt road. But this bestial beast wasn’t finished. Confronting a defenceless woman. A onced immovable woman who was rendered immovable. Powerless. Prostrated. Paralysed. Yet aim he took. And fired he did. Firing fourteen bullets in her lifeless body.

Now, with the nation aghast from this 2018 monstrous act, many queried how love could have delivered 14 bullets? How a verbal altercation could’ve escalated to such a gruesome murder? How a man, a father and army captain, could visit such violence on a defenceless woman. But even as we the masses were rendered horrified with this most savage of acts, another was brought to our acute consciousness. Another which followed that cold-blooded prototype.

Woman argues. Woman remains steadfastly immovable in her position. Woman shot to the head. Woman defenceless. Powerless. Prostrated. Paralysed. Yet aim he took. And fired he did. Firing twelve bullets in her lifeless body.

So, once again we mourn, even as we introspect. What Kenesha Vaughn could’ve done to warrant such a brutal death? What Kenesha Vaughn could’ve said to justify 12 bullets? What demonic forces overcame Marlan DaSilva, transforming him into another of our women annihilators? Why didn’t he walk away? Timeout? Separation? Divorce? Why ruthlessly slaughter her?

How many more? How many more Kenesha Vaughn? How many more Reona Payne? How many more LaWanda McAllister? How many more Bibi Fazila Ally. How many more Alexis Roxanne Harris? How many more Yuni Zamora Castro? How many more Tasina Dazzell? How many more Zaila Sugrim? How many more Waynmattie Permaul? How many more Agatha Gamell? How many more women have to be massacred, before this installed government acts?