Domestic Violence in The Bahamas
According to the radio news the death of my friend Bloneva Bethel was the "result of a domestic dispute". Why was it not "an unnecessary death due to the failure of the Police to respond to a serious call for help in a timely manner?" The term "domestic dispute" seems to make the death of this poor, mutilated woman excusable, acceptable or something like it.
Policemen I know have even admitted to me that they don't take domestic disputes seriously because it is "private business" or "usually gets sorted out".
I am sorry for all the false alarms and wolf criers, but I can assure you that when I phoned the police for help many years ago when my (now ex) husband was ranting and raving and throwing things at me and threatening me, that when the Policewoman on the phone said, "well we can not come right now, but let us pray together", that I then had to run from my own house and seek help from my neighbours.
Luckily I am not Bloneva Bethel - just the result of a Domestic Disturbance.
We could greatly reduce the death rate of this country if we took domestic violence seriously. We could have saved so many women, mothers, daughters and sisters and soft ball players...what will it take?
Sara
