The Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Christians is concerned about the growing number of reported cases of domestic violence against men and what it considers to be the lack of adequate attention by authorities to this problem on a country-wide scale. the island.
When Seventh Day Christians gathered on Sunday for their 2024 Prayer Breakfast at the Medallion Hall Hotel in St Andrew, under the theme “Breaking the Silence”. Enough is enough!’ was the main topic discussed.
As of July 2023, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) reported receiving more than 3,000 reports of domestic violence, with police saying more men were willing to file complaints against their female partners.
To complement the data, the Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Christians expressed concern that with feminist movements and some women being more inspired to lead, this sometimes leads them to mistreat their male spouses and that men are also mistreated at their workplace. and by their loved ones for various reasons.
BURNED HUSBAND
In her opening remarks, Donette Gordon-Dalhousie, director of children’s ministry for the Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Christians, referred to a Gleaner article published in February last year in which a woman, Serita Housen Blair, was found guilty of pouring gasoline on her partner in 2017 while he was sleeping before setting him on fire. She suspected her husband of cheating on her.
“According to (an online article) dated September 6, 2023, a Jamaican man was allegedly beaten to death by his wife on September 2, 2023, after she discovered he had left her out of his will,” a said Gordon-Dalhousie. .
“She allegedly admitted to using a hammer to hit her husband several times. He was also stabbed. Break the silence! Enough is enough!” she said.
Gordon-Dalhousie also faced other instances of abuse, reported in the newspapers, which she prayerfully noted at the annual sunrise event.
Following her statement, New Hope Seventh Day Christian Conference (SDCC) Assistant Minister Suzette Faulknor further called for the intervention of the Almighty regarding the number of cases of abuse against men , reported and unreported every year, some of which go unreported due to the embarrassment it would cause to abused men, particularly in police stations.
“This morning we are drawing attention to the men who have been abused in our communities. Mighty God, remember our men who have been beaten. Those who have been treated unfairly. Those who have been accused, rejected and scorned. We need your mercy this morning. Mercy, in the name of Jesus! » said Faulknor.
“We need these (men) who are trapped by criminals to do things they don’t really want to do! …Save their souls, Lord. Give them the strength to endure. I pray that our men will rise up with the courage to ask for help! ” she says.
Faulknor also called for binding the spirit and forces of darkness surrounding men across the country, particularly those suffering in inner-city communities.
COLLECTIVE ISSUE
Odell Marsh, shadow spokesperson for transport and public works, who delivered the greetings on behalf of Opposition Leader Mark Golding, noted that women were also being abused and that statistics were more readily available for these cases .
“Today we face a major problem that demands our collective attention and action. The ever-present specters of domestic violence, homicides, feminicides and sexual and physical abuse of our children in Jamaica. It’s time to break the silence. Enough is enough!” Marsh said.
He said review of official data from the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI), the United Nations Development Program and other institutions painted a grim picture of the prevalence of these heinous acts in within Jamaican communities.
“The CAPRI study reveals that 28 percent of our women have been victims of domestic violence. The problem of domestic violence is no longer limited to women alone. According to the latest police reports, we have also seen an increase in the number of men reporting domestic violence,” he said.
“In 2022, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities revealed in its publication that Jamaica has the second highest rate of femicide in the world. It’s the murder of women. It is the second country behind El Salvador. Statistics are not just numbers. They represent shattered lives, extinguished dreams and stolen innocence,” he said.
He said now is the time for everyone to admit harsh realities and commit to fostering a safer and more supportive environment for all.
ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Seventh-day Christians as Adventists.
