These hard-hitting accounts are not fictional stories. I saw comments where Mel’s exposure was lauded as being the single act of the year that has brought rape to the fore, eclipsing the efforts of the authorities which have millions of dollars at their disposals but are failing to bring such awareness. Rape is one that has far-reaching impact. She would check his body, smell his clothes and even question his phone calls. I have a close relative who account two cases of forced sex and it has led to severe trust issues with her husband. Like suicide, we appear to have a major problem on our hands.
I have been seeing increasing reports of incest and rapes in the hinterlands. In fact, the figures would show that just 150 sexual cases are listed for the next court sessions. In the news this past week, it has been reported that the High Court will deal with several sex assault cases with the majority involving children. How does a child deal with being beaten or parents separated if details of a rape emerge? I don’t want to continue to dwell on details of these stories of women who tell on being made to sit on the lap of a big man and being threatened of being thrown out on the streets if they dared talk. One woman told of being raped by masked men and then later suffering from relationship issues. Wives, covering up years of abuse, tell of trust issues with husbands. The stories would point to a society where enough support mechanisms are not in place and of a people who have low tolerance of any disclosures of sexual abuse of a minor.Ĭases are swept under the carpet with families ashamed and unwilling to pursue to the end.
She later denied the episodes occurred.Ī number of the women, now grown up, have never recovered, and have been broken with suicidal thoughts and sleeping around, a manifestation of the abuse. She was a protector who insisted that the two sleep on one bed. There is a case of a young man who recounted his first sexual encounter with his cousin. The stories on Mel’s page by victims are a bulls-horn in the middle of a quiet Catholic church. One cadet spoke of being raped by two colleagues during her training in the army.įathers, step-fathers, step-brothers, cousins, boyfriends. Who are these monsters that would desecrate little boys and girls? On Mel’s page, and if you want details go read them yourselves, the accounts of the victims are heartrending and beyond believable. Who do they complain to? Do they know that they are victims and rape is a such an abominable sin and crime? Imagine if that kid is a little girl or boy who lives with relatives because their parents are dead or live overseas. Once you are with someone enjoying the moment, if they attempt to push you away and say no, and yet you proceed, then it is rape. I felt scarred after reading a number of those accounts.Ī relationship is a beautiful thing once it is between consenting adults. The shares and the comments are clear evidence that the issue has hit a nerve. She has been aggressive on the social circuits on hot-button, taboo issues, a welcome deviation from the safe topics we have become accustomed to.Īs I write on an early Friday morning, her page has 60 “true stories” of Guyana women and men who detail experiences that have left permanent scars. I am glad they are okay.įor the past few days, Melissa ‘Melly Mel’ Atwell, a social media activist and talk show host, has been raising the issue of rape. I briefly scrolled through Facebook page and saw bandits had carried out a home invasion on the parents of a media worker. I could not sleep Friday morning and started work at about 4:30am. They know about not venturing alone to the toilets at school and about what constitutes an inappropriate touch. Inside, my conservative nature would rebel at their questioning eyes. I try not to blink and would pretend that is a conversation that happens every day with my little ones. In recent times, discussions of sex would be become topic that is normal in a home with the two siblings who are 10 and 12. I cannot but help but think often now of the lengths that I would go to protect my family. I jealously guard the moments and dare not be late for those annual dates. In recent years, she has been insisting I come early as I have been given the task of cutting her birthday cake. My days are long, sometimes going until 11pm. Her innocent hugs are something that men would not understand unless they have fathered a little girl. I look at her and I see the love and trust in her eyes. I am taking her out later and she will have a good time.