“A System That Takes Responsibility”: Calls for Overhaul of Domestic Violence Response
By: Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — As Guyana grapples with a persistent wave of domestic abuse, Attorney-at-Law and Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir is calling for a fundamental shift in how the state handles these cases. Following recent appeals from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a “victim-centered” approach, Walton-Desir argues that compassion alone is not enough; Guyana needs a system structurally capable of protecting victims without leaving them to bear the burden of prosecution alone.
In an exclusive interview with Nightly News, the MP emphasized that the current “fragility” of the justice system often forces victims back into dangerous situations due to systemic gaps.
Shifting the Burden of Proof
One of Walton-Desir’s primary critiques is the reliance on the victim to drive the legal process, a dynamic she says often leads to the collapse of serious cases.
- The Reality of Fear: She noted that many victims cannot follow through with cases due to economic dependence, stigma, and direct threats. “Too many of our cases still rise and fall on whether a victim can carry them through,” she observed.
- State Responsibility: The MP argued that once a report is made, the investigative and legal apparatus must take ownership of building the case. This would move the pressure away from the victim and onto the police and prosecutors to secure evidence and witness testimony.
Protection Orders: “Real Protection, Not Paper Promises”
The enforcement of protection orders remains a glaring weakness in the current framework, according to the veteran attorney.
- Ignored Warnings: Walton-Desir highlighted “horror stories” in which protection orders were treated as mere suggestions until they escalated into tragedy.
- Swift Consequences: She advocates immediate, mandatory legal consequences when an order is breached. A protection order, she maintains, must be a “firm structure” that a perpetrator fears and a victim can trust.
Proposed Solution: Specialized Response Units
To fix the “disempowerment” many feel when walking into a police station, Walton-Desir is proposing a specialized infrastructure within the Guyana Police Force.
- Dedicated DV Units: She suggests formalizing units staffed exclusively by officers trained in domestic violence response. This would ensure that reports are handled with the specific urgency and seriousness they require.
- Ending Victim Blaming: The goal is to ensure no victim leaves a station feeling further marginalized by the very people meant to protect them.
Trust as the Foundation of Justice
For Amanza Walton-Desir, the measure of a successful system is not just the number of laws on the books, but whether a woman in crisis can trust the state to act. By removing the “burden of alone” from the victim, the MP believes Guyana can finally move from “talk” to a domestic violence response system that actually saves lives.
