Women need safe spaces

The family of Cristeen Gopaul, whose bones were believed to have been discovered in a forested area off Penal Rock Road on September 10, is appealing to the Government for shelters across the nation for abused women.

These women were crying out for safe spa­ces, a relative said.

Speaking with the Sunday Express in a telephone interview last Thursday, the relative, who asked to go unnamed, said Gopaul, 39, of Siparia, was a victim of domestic violence.

And while Gopaul never shared this with her family, she was a victim of multiple incidents which resulted in broken bones over the past two years.

Relatives said Gopaul suffered a miscarriage in December 2024.

A month later, she was reported missing.

The relative said se­veral family members reached out to Gopaul, offering advice and help, but she never let them in.

“She (Gopaul) was depressed and she never turned to anyone in the family. Even if she had problem, she never told any of the family. She looked normal, but she wasn’t in all her right mind, and we could tell she was troubled,” the relative said.

She became enraged and warned them to stay out of her business.

The relative believes had a safe space been easily accessible, Gopaul may have been willing to speak with a professional.

“It should have spa­ces for women to feel free to talk. If she can’t talk to her own, and it have someone she could reach out to, it would have been good. Women going through these things should reach out for help.

“If the Government can set up an institution to help women, it would be real good. Places like this where it have a woman (therapist) so you feel comfortable talking to. On the whole, women need to realise that they are valuable. Respect yourself and if a man can’t respect you, they not worth you at all,” the relative added.

A six-month wait

Gopaul was last seen at Ice Breakers Bar And Lounge, Penal, on February 17, with a male friend.

Her last communication with family members was on March 15 when she shared that she was in trouble and appealed for help.

The family conducted searches, but were unsuccessful in locating her.

Following reports that Gopaul was not alive, the family filed a missing person report at the Siparia Police Sta­tion on September 3.

The family contac­ted the registered Hunters Search and Rescue Team (HSRT), led by commander Shamsu­deen Ayube.

Following an eight-day search, the team discovered skeletal remains on September 10.

Police were told that several human bones were found scattered across a six-foot (1.8-metre) area off the roadway.

The bones, which include a skull, ribcage, and other large bones, were found together with a black floral dress, underwear and a pink slipper.

The district medical officer visited the scene and ordered the remo­val of the remains to the mortuary of the San Fernando General Hospital, with instructions to conduct a post-mortem.

The relative said that while they were unsure whether the post-mortem was conducted, the family was told that the results of a DNA test would be given within a six-month period.

However, they believe the remains are of Gopaul.

They were now await­ing confirmation be­fore conducting Gopaul’s final rites.

“We just want to get her remains and then we will see about anything else,” the relative said.

Trinidad Express