End De Violence Premiere, A Call to Action

It’s is a long road ahead but there’s hope by anti violence activists and educators that Barbados can rid itself of all forms of violence.

This was a recurring theme during a recent premiere screening of the End De Violence series, which is an Anti Violence Campaign Initiative by The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment.

The five short films, produced by Quantum Productions with screenplay by Educator and Author Dr Denise Charles, highlighted the five types of violence including physical and domestic violence, which are both prominent in Barbadian society.

The theme song, which undoubtedly pricked at the hearts of viewers and listeners, was by reigning  junior monarch Shontae Alleyne-Clarke.

The first feature film in the End De Violence series subtitled The Scream, spoke to shades of despair left in the wake of domestic violence.

Young actor and Youtuber Danico Watson played the role of a torturing partner who beat his girlfriend to a bloody pulp.

The convincing actors portrayed how domestic violence destroys families, which eventually ruins societies.

In the piece Watson, on a phone call explained that it seemed he could not help himself when he got angry resulting in him beating his partner.

In following up on what occurred on screen, panellist and President of the Business and Professional Women’s Club Marlene Hewitt spoke about how prevalent male-on-female domestic violence is.

“The statistics show worldwide that male-on-female domestic abuse is about 85 per cent among the population. You are more likely to find male-on-female violence but things like rape and sexual assault send the numbers up,” she said.

Another form of violence that was portrayed on screen, though subtly, was through the screen play Alone Inside, which spoke to psychological abuse. The film was about a young lady, (Sharisha Brathwaite), who was working on a project about human rights, but ironically was violating the rights of others through hatred and gossip. The film called for young people to treat each other with dignity and respect despite their differences.

Also in the series was No Peace No Piece, which spoke to sexual violence and how men may abuse women by disrespecting them with offensive words and actions.

It was a call to action for men to respect women and their bodies more.

Important lessons came from the fourth short film, which portrayed Watson as a son who battled with thoughts of suicide because his classmates called him “black, ugly and smelly”. Fortunately for him, his tutors picked up on his feelings of rejection through dark essay type notes. The acting of his “mother” Tamika Newton was quite compelling as she tried with her son to open up about what he was dealing with.

Noted members of society viewed the screening including Children’s Rights Advocate Faith Marshall Harris, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey and  Assistant Director of the screening Gabriel Charles amongst others.

Sitting on the panel for the evening was psychologist Dr Ronald Chase, Inspector Stephen Griffith and Educator Joy Ann Inniss. (MR)