HORRIFIC RAPE

WORDS can hardly express our outrage at a recent spate of horrific assaults on women, including gang-rapes, in TT   Sadly, many of these assaults entailed hard-working women travelling to work in the wee hours, only to be abducted by bandit(s)/rapist(s) in cars. Newsday reported on July 25 that a 29-year-old woman, on her way to work at a top Port-of-Spain hotel, was raped at 5 am in Couva by a man in a car who reportedly pointed a gun and ordered her into the car. On July 28, Newsday reported a story, “Woman robbed, raped by taxi driver”, in which a 22-year-old woman who was travelling home was abducted by a purported taxi driver in Arima, hit in the neck, robbed of her money and cellphone, and raped. In a story, “Woman raped in San Juan”, on August 5 Newsday reported that a 27-year-old woman was in El Dorado at 5 am walking to work, when she was abducted by three men in a car, robbed of her money, cellphone and drivers licence, taken to San Juan, and gang-raped. On August 12, a 32-year-old woman was raped after a man announced a hold-up at Marabella at about 5 am. The police have arrested a suspect. On August 16, Newsday reported, “Two more rape cases in South”. Firstly, a woman was raped in a derelict house in San Fernando at knife-point by a man she had arranged to meet. The second South case involved a woman boarding a car she thought was a taxi in San Fernando but instead ending up being raped by three men (including the driver) in Marabella.  We ask, what makes a man, or in these cases, a group of men, do such a dastardly deed? Didn’t they each have a mother? So why do they commit such a hate-crime against women? Make no mistake, rape is not an act of sex; it is an act of violence. The nation must now stand resolutely against these heinous crimes. Firstly, we demand strong action by the police and the law courts to detect, apprehend and prosecute these rapists.  Secondly, the victims must be supported by counselling and medical care. If they are too traumatised to testify in court, we hope some reliance can be placed on forensic evidence such as fingerprints and DNA testing. Thirdly, we’d suggest employers take a greater concern over the risks their female staff face in 5 am journeys to work, and try to assist vulnerable workers with transport. Fourthly, we’d like to suggest novel ways to disempower rape perpetrators. Shouldn’t we consider passing a law to ban anyone who uses a car in a heinous crime, such as rape, from holding a drivers licence? Isn’t it time that the photographs of rape repeat offenders be published so the public would be alerted not to board their taxi/PH car? We lament the emotional trauma suffered by rape victims and the risk to their physical health, including exposure to HIV and unwanted pregnancy. Our prayers are with the victims, and we wish them each the strength to carry on with their daily lives, and the courage to face their assailants in the law courts. ....................................................................................................................................................... Four primary school boys have been charged in connection with the rape of a 12-year-old female pupil in Tobago. The boys appeared before Magistrate Cheryl Ann Antoine yesterday in the Scarborough Magistrates' Court. They were not called upon to plead as the charges were laid indictably. They were placed on $60,000 bail with surety in the care of their parents and the matter has been adjourned to July 17. The four, ranging in ages from 11 to 13, were charged with kidnapping and sexual assault of the girl. According to Scarborough police, the incident occurred on the afternoon of May 15 at Friendsfield, as the girl was returning from netball practice. She was jumped from behind, dragged into some nearby bushes and raped repeatedly. The child later raised an alarm and was supported by passers-by who rushed her to Scarborough General Hospital.

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