#BTSpeakingOut– How Many More, Jah?

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today Inc.

by Brandon Squires

What is rape? According to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, rape is defined as the crime, typically committed by a man, of forcing someone to have sex with him, especially using violence. In Barbados, many persons have been raped and abused, some being minors, and we must do something more about it.

Over the past couple of weeks, Barbadians, young and old, have had a lot to say regarding the rape of an eleven-year-old girl, who was impregnated; a fourteen-year-old teenager by a man responsible for her; a fifteen year-old step daughter; and the court case of a man who assaulted a 14 year-old boy
in 2008.

The 1992 Sexual Offences Act states that anyone over the age of 14 who engages in sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 14 is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life. However, in several instances, persons do not pursue rape cases.

The complainant may have been paid by the accused to drop the case, the victim may not wish to testify or recount the incident, or, because of the long wait for a trial, the victim has decided that he or she has moved on.

Even though there is an overloaded court system, rape cases should be made a priority so that victims and their families can receive the justice they deserve. With so many cases of sexual abuse, one must ask also why there is no Sex Offenders Registry, so that the public can know the names of persons who have committed the heinous acts.

We must also look to take care of persons who have been raped, some of whom may suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with the implementation of more counselling services for the victims and programs to help those victims, who may have been impregnated, to raise their children. However, parents and guardians must also take the responsibility of knowing who their child is talking to or socialising with.

Many Barbadians frequently quote the lyrics of the John King song “How Many More?” whenever there is a rise in crime and violence. This question remains relevant today as too many children have fallen victim to sexual predators. While laws are in place to protect our children, for the reasons noted before, it appears they are not effective.

In Jamaica, Khanice Jackson, a twenty-four-year-old bank clerk, was kidnapped, raped and killed by a mechanic. In Barbados, Kalifa Downes was raped and killed by Ryan Bullen, back in 2007. Are we waiting on someone else to suffer the same fate before we do more? Are we waiting until another family must bear the pain of losing a loved one in this manner, to change? How many more must they be, before we take additional steps to prevent our young children from being sexually abused?

The Government of Barbados has the responsibility to care for our victims and enforce the laws that have been put in place to not only protect children, but anyone from suffering the same fate. Our communities must also play their part to keep our children safe. Today, instead of pursuing careers and degrees, many of these young ladies and men are forever scarred, with some, now raising children.

This Child Month, let us focus on ending sexual assault against our children. One child is one too many.