n-lookers crowded the
doorways of every shop and office in downtown Basseterre as a March to "Break
the Conspiracy of Silence in Violence Against Women and Children" came
through town on Friday, March 15. Business temporarily came to a standstill
as hundreds of young people and dozens of adults marched through the streets
calling for an end to violence against women and children. Second story balconies
held supporters and windows were filled with curious faces. The procession was
well received by the general public which appeared supportive of the message
that family violence must be stopped.The march was originally planned for March 8, International Women's Day in conjunction with the Conference on Violence Against Women and Children (see accompanying story). Rainshowers caused the event to be postponed that day. This time the rain which came as young people in school uniforms gathered around the Tamarind Tree in Greenlands wasn't enough to silence their voices.
Few older teenage boys participated, while younger girls and boys were equally represented. Responding to this and the general problem of boys not thriving in school, Ms. Charles-Gumbs, a guidance counselor at Basseterre High School, said, "I have two sons and I'm trying to help them choose to achieve." Ms. Charles-Gumbs said that the students were so enthusiastic about the march that only the older students from the school were invited to attend, because the teachers were worried about having too many young people to keep an eye on.
Shannon Hawley, a 5th form student who lives in Mattingley Heights, described her participation this way, "It is necessary for the youth of the island to realize what's going on with the violence. This is just my little contribution." She also told The Observer that "my family instilled in me that violence against women is wrong."
Signs carried by some of the youngsters gave them a chance to speak their mind: "People Stop Violence," "Children Need Love" and "Every Man Has a Mother" were some of them. The slogans were written by a Family Life Education class at Basseterre High School and other young people made the signs.
A new brochure, produced by the Ministry of Health and Women's Affairs, was handed out to hundreds of bystanders along the march route. Entitled "Say No To Violence," the brochure says that "violence against women is a direct result of inequalities between men and women." It discusses "factors which contribute to abusive behavior" and defines different forms of abuse including physical abuse, sexual abuse and psychological/emotional abuse. It challenges all parts of society which put down women, including the lyrics of "some of our own Calypsonians and Reggae singers."
To help local songwriteres create a more positive culture, the lyrics of a rewritten calypso song were handed out to marchers. It is based on the road march tune from this year's Carnival "Show dem you foot bottom and run," which describes a man running away to avoid going to jail for his sexual relationship with an underage girl (unlawful carnal knowledge). The updated version reads:
"If he sharing only battery
and you know de love is gone
Show him you foot bottom and run.
If he meddling you children
put the police on de man
Show him you foot bottom and run.
If he promise he going beat you
or he threatening you with gun
Show him you foot bottom and run."
Sam Stokes, who works for Skantel, watched the march on Cayon Street. He said it was important "to get people aware of the beating of women and children." Mr. Stokes didn't feel that the problem was too common within Kittitian society, but said that it was difficult to know about this "because we are a closed society, it is just beginning to come out and people are beginning to become aware of" the extent of the problem. Another spectator, Selda Tucker, declared that "men must not abuse their children, and it's good for children to be saying so." Ms. Tucker said she would have joined the march if she didn't have to be at work.
The march ended on the Bay Road where two speakers thanked the marchers. The traditional smell of barbecued chicken wafted through the late Friday afternoon air asRosalyn Hazelle, Director of Women's Affairs, described violence against women and children as "a burning issue." She continued, "When children go to sleep at night they should know that they'll have a peaceful night's sleep, that they won't be molested." Sharon Tucker, representing the Teacher's Union, recognised the need for participation by all sectors of society by calling for "a united effort to break the conspiracy of silence."
The march was sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Women's Affairs and the St. Kitts Teachers Union. It is a part of ongoing efforts to respond more effectively to violence against women and children within the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. For further information or to assist with those efforts, contact the Ministry of Women's Affairs at 465-2521.
