The nightmare continues

No man is an island and an innocent child needs a community to build his character together with their significant others. My daughter at 15 years old was raped. This case has been called in the Scarborough Magistrates’ Court no less than 15 times thus far. To this date July 4, 2006 nothing has happened.

Is the justice system failing us? Don’t we have the right to effectively deal with our feelings when we are satisfied that justice has been served? Do we have the right whether physically or emotionally to deal with the suffering, anger, the agony and painful realities of our lives? Is not my child entitled to a speedy and fair hearing? Is she not a prime minister of tomorrow?

We have thus far survived many serious problems especially financially as this incident took place in Tobago. Our journeys to the Courts in Scarborough for the past four years have not only affected us financially but also emotionally where at times, having to request time off from my job proves to be more than any employer can bear with. Praise and thanks to God who has taken care of us thus far and gives us the strength to reach this far.

Thanks to God for the internal strength to cope this far as we are not giving up now.

Please can you help us to have this trial completed as my daughter and myself want to get on with our lives.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share this predicament with you and we hope in some way that you can lend some assistance to me and my family in this situation.

Editor’s note: Due to the sensitive nature of this letter, we are withholding the letter writer’s name.