Region Three Chamber Condemns Family Violence and Supports the President’s Call for Action

The Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Chamber of Commerce and Industry condemns the violence that has taken the lives of women and children in their own homes in recent weeks, and stands with His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in his call for the nation to act.

In August a woman was found dead at her home at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. On Tuesday the body of a six-year-old boy was recovered from a canal at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, and a woman and her three-year-old son died in a house fire on the Essequibo Coast. Each remains a live police matter. Our deepest sympathy goes to the families and communities who are grieving.

The President has reminded the nation that men carry an important responsibility for creating safer and stronger families. We agree, and we commit our members to that work. Questions of sentencing belong to the Attorney General, Parliament and the courts; our focus is on preventing harm before it happens.