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“I thought the move was a call for the end to criminal and
unlawful activities, but apparently I got it wrong.”
She continued: “Besides breaking the traffic lights and refusing
to give other drivers a chance, many of them were also crazily driving
on the shoulders of the road.
“I saw with my own eyes a pedestrian having to jump out of
the path of an oncoming car, on the shoulder of the Churchill Roosevelt
Highway on Friday, at about 4.30 p.m.
“The car’s lights were on in all their glory and everyone
in it, Indians and Africans alike was wearing black.
“It was almost as if they were saying we vex with everybody
for the killing of Sean, so we do not care about anybody, and to
hell with the law.
“I doubt that that was what the organisers had in mind when
they made the call for car lights to be kept on and for persons
to wear black.
“But they should know about the negative effects of their
call, lest it goes to their heads that they achieved success.
“As far as I saw, the call was unsuccessful, since it showed
that the participants have not yet made the connection with ‘small’
illegal acts and ‘big’ crimes.
“They seem to still think that since the crime is small they
could get away with it, which translates to mean that tomorrow they
will be able to get away with the bigger ones ... just like the
thinking of the criminals against whom they are protesting.”
The Central-based social worker added: “I made it my business
to be at the Couva Court on Monday last, not because I wanted to
see the faces of Sean’s alleged killers, but moreso to see
the faces of the protesters who had made their intentions clear
all weekend.
“While there, I am sure I saw men whose wives had accused
them in the past of interfering with their little daughters.
“I am sure I saw men whose wives had complained to us in the
past about the abuse they bring on them, day and night, after they
drink and gamble out all their money.
“While there, I am sure I saw men whose wives and girlfriends
have accused them of raping them. But they were there shouting loud,
calling for blood and accusing the police of cover-up and all other
manner of things.”
She added: “I really had to wonder, how many of the men calling
for revenge in Sean’s killing went home and sexually abused
their little daughters that same night?
“I thought to myself, what dishonesty! We are really a sick
society; we never seem to see our own wrongs.”
The social worker added: “I have also been trying to understand
why would a six-year-old boy be left to wander away from his home
almost without adult supervision for so long.
“I am almost tempted to ask, who was responsible for him when
he went missing?
“Didn’t the person miss him after 15 minutes or half-an-hour?
“Somehow I get the impression that many hours had passed before
concern was expressed, where is Sean?”
She added: “Yes, it was a murder most foul; yes, we are all
angry that it happened.
“But there are lots of variables involved that must also be
dealt with; for one thing we must know that many times revenge is
the worse form of response. And we must also be honest with ourselves
when we condemn others.”
The social worker said she thinks it is a step in the right direction
that counselling is being arranged for Sean’s alleged killers.
“I also want Sean’s relatives and the accused relatives
to be counselled.
“And this counselling must not be a one and done thing; the
victim’s relatives and the accused and their relatives must
be monitored over a period of time.
“And the police must offer protection to the accused relatives,
just in case the zealots take things a step further.”
She continued: “One more thing: just out of curiosity, I hope
that Sean being an American had nothing to do with society’s
response to his killing in comparison to that of the little Dane
Andrews from Monkey Town in Princes Town,” who was also buggered
to death. |
