Sound advice from PM on domestic violence

That is not victim blaming/ shaming, or an abdication of the responsibility of men, the Police Service or the Government. It is common sense. Prevention is better than cure.

Do you go to sleep at night and recklessly leave your front door open? Some situations are avoidable, others are not. However, we must not make ourselves an easy target.

Long ago when a woman saw a man she liked, she and/or her friends and relations would do a background check on him, before getting into a committed relationship.

For example, among other things, she would seek information on whether or not he had a history of violence in his past, inclusive of his relationships with women.

TT ’s small size is a distinct advantage.

We are good “macos”.

Most people either know each other or have friends/relations who can access information on people with whom we interact.

Sadly, as a developing country, at times we are unduly influenced by the “psycho-babble” of the “North” and, mindlessly, throw the baby out with the bath water. Unfortunately, even in the good old days, some women who failed to do the background checks lived to regret that decision.

Regrettably, I have observed, recently, that certain organisations established with the objective of empowering and protecting women have perhaps, unwittingly, been promoting, by implication, recklessness, given their lack of support for the Prime Minister’s call for personal responsibility as one of the obvious measures in the protection of women. These organisations ought to focus some attention on what preventive measures women should take to avoid relationships with violent men, similar to the guidance we, routinely, provide to our children in their dealings with strangers.

Like all other crimes/social ills, domestic violence has to be fought on many fronts — legislation, law enforcement, counselling, education and awareness etc. However, like all other crimes/social ills, we must accept our personal responsibility to protect ourselves as far as is practicable. Recklessness is not an option.

The Prime Minister has given sound advice.

No woman should ignore what he has said. He has nothing to apologise for.

Louis Winston Williams St Augustine