Students, survivors march against domestic violence
The arrest of Louie Ganzie Gentle and Kurt Vasquez has done little to quell the public outcry against the recent spate of domestic violence. This morning, News Five’s Jacqueline Godwin attended an event designed to harness those feelings into positive action.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Today’s march against domestic violence and abuse was organized by the staff and students of Saint Catherine’s Academy but also included members of concerned organizations, survivors of domestic abuse and young men and women from other educational institutions.
Angela Francis, Poet
“Today, another woman will cry, not of natural cause but of fear, violence, scars and bruise that many live in secret for years. We now see it as a tear in another woman’s eyes who silently cries.”
This morning, the Police Department displayed a collection of weapons that have been used against to hurt women.
The general consensus is that it will take a unified approach to effectively address the crime that in the past two months have ended the lives of twenty seven year old Anna Basto, twenty eight year old Karel Ogaldez Gabourel and twenty eight year old Keisha Sutherland. Survivors like Delvorine Duheaney and Lorna Wade say the recent tragedies have made them even more determined to help save other women’s lives.
Delvorine Duheaney, Survivor, Domestic Violence
“We as women we are making our voices heard but it seems like the men are not taking this very seriously.”
Lorna Wade, Survivor, Domestic Violence
“It just feels sad that even though we are speaking out and appealing to the public and everyone to help us to break this domestic violence people are losing their lives and children are losing their moms. So right now we are asking and appealing to help us to end this violence.”
Supporters of today’s event are hoping the march will help inspire others to join in the fight and stop the violence.
Carolyn Reynolds, Executive Director, Women’s Issues Network, Belize
“Well our position is zero tolerance when it comes to domestic violence. We have been working on this issue for sometime now.”
Salome Tillett, Principal, S.C.A
“This year we decided that we wanted to stand in support and solidarity with the women who have been victims of domestic violence. In particular because we are a school that serves women.”
Khadija Usher, Student, S.C.A
“Well it is a very important march because it has an important meaning behind it, and as women we must defend our fellow women who are in domestic violence every day.”
Robin Schaffer, Student, S.C.A
“Domestic violence is a terrible thing. It kills people and it orphans children and this march is very important and we hope to get the message out.”
Carol Fonseca, Executive Director, Women’s Department
“You know a lot of times in our society we speak about the negatives when it comes to young people … and I think today clearly indicates that our young people are concerned about what is happening and they are concerned about the fact that they want their voices heard and clearly we have heard their voices today.”
The awareness rally was also a time for the families who lost a loved one through domestic violence to speak out.
Clifford Lennox Sutherland, Keisha Sutherland’s Grandfather
“You love them, you raise them and you send them to school so that they may strive for excellence to better their conditions in life, but somewhere along the way they get distracted by the things of the world and the men of the world. Boy and girl thing is a funny thing, “darling no worry about that I will take care of it”, that doesn’t work because you must stand firm on your direction towards your goal.”
Rosalie Ogaldez, Karel Gabourel’s Sister
“They did see their pa haul the knife so they already knew and they expected it, just that they felt it was just a stab.”
Karel Gabourel’s three children ages nine to twelve years old are being counselled.
Lorna Wade
“I am appealing to the young girls, you have your whole life in front of you don’t let them take it away and don’t let them cut it short.”
Delvorine Duheaney
“I feel that the reason people are not really reaching out is because most women are still in denial and feel shame of the situation that they are living in, but we cannot give up. It is not an overnight thing.”
Jacqueline Godwin for News Five.
