Disturbing remarks by PM

Too many people in government flippantly dismiss the issues that plague this country. Crime — including domestic violence — is at the top of that list. Crime is written off as a problem because of gangs or women who choose the wrong men.

I am deeply disturbed and deeply saddened — not to mention outraged — over the Prime Minister’s comments because he of all people should show concern for this country and demand solutions for problems.

When everyone — including the leader of a nation — is unwilling to acknowledge a problem, take responsibility for it and work towards a solution, a nation can do nothing but sink further and further into the abyss of ignorance.

Prime Minister Rowley’s statement, which clearly says women are responsible for their own violence because of the men they are choosing, is an example of how people in this country shift blame so that they do not have to own up to the responsibility of their jobs. Ministries in this country spend most of their time playing political ping pong.

Instead of callously dismissing this nation’s problems and putting the blame on victims — which is something no one should ever do — Prime Minister Rowley should be asking some important questions.

Let me list some for you:
1. What are we doing to make education more relevant so that students learn how to handle stress, anger, disappointment and rejection?
2. What are we doing in schools to teach students about positive, personal relationships?
3. How do our schools teach young men to treat women, and how do adults in society model that behaviour for young men?
4. How do we teach students confidence and self-reliance? And how do we use literature in our English classes to help students deal with their feelings?
5. How do schools teach conflict resolution?
6. How do schools teach students to deal with bullies and violence in school?
7. How does the Police Service deal with domestic violence? Do police take reports and follow up on them or do they just passively wait for crimes to occur?
8. Do police help victims of domestic violence to feel protected by the police?
9. How effective are social services in this country?
10. And here’s the million-dollar question you could have asked, Dr Rowley, “Why are so many women in this country the victims of violence, and what can I, as the Prime Minister do to stop it?

The Prime Minister needs to take a tougher stand on crime and violence and he must set an example for all of those people working under him. There are many ways he could have shown empathy and concern for a major problem in this country, and there are many ways he could have modelled appropriate behaviour for public servants who feel no compunction to do their jobs.

Domestic violence and the spate of crimes targeting women do not require crude, callous and dismissive statements. Problems like crime don’t materialise out of a vacuum. Problems stem from larger issues in society, and they don’t get solved when no one who should be dealing with these issues — including the Prime Minister — are willing to take responsibility for them.