Dear Editor,
The paedophile regime has become more powerful and more dangerous than the tantalizing drug world. It is so influential that it presides over our Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches of government. Even our community is crippled by the tentacles of this evil empire!
To reinforce the boldness, The Daily Herald of Friday, August 25, reported yet another heart-breaking story that involved a 47-year-old child molester and a blameless nine-year- old girl. At first, the sex offender denied committing the act, but was forced to confess when his own DNA became his prosecutor. What is extremely puzzling is that he said he has paedophilia tendencies because of the conduct displayed by some little girls. The questions that linger in my mind are: Exactly whose girls and how do they behave? Are they his girls, those in his immediate vicinity, the ones of his entire neighbourhood or little girls in general? More confusing is: Where was he precisely when these little girls behaved in a manner that stimulated his sexual appetite?
The perpetrator further stated that the victim in question came on to him. In the beginning, he did not want to molest her but finally gave in to the temptation. Again, where was he when this incident took place? Interestingly, the newspaper indicated that the perpetrator is the neighbour of the victim’s grandparents. With this information, there are many questions that come into play, but I am curious to know: What was the relationship like among the assailant, victim and grandparents, prior to this incident?
As the proceeding progressed, his lawyer admitted that his client has paedophilia tendencies and needs psychological help, instead of being placed in prison where he will be a target for other inmates. Strange! So, is it okay for an innocent little child to be subjected to sexual abuse but a grown man, who has inflicted the pain, be protected by the same justice system? Where is the equity in this situation?
Then amazingly, alcohol and drugs are being blamed for the victim’s behaviour. If this is the excuse that is used to down play the dirty behaviour of a child molester, what would happen to the children of this country, if they are hunted down by every adult that consume drugs and alcohol?
Here comes the part that makes absolutely no sense. Imagine both the prosecutor and judge doubted the molester’s claim that the child had initiated sexual advances towards him, yet he was sentenced to a measly year in prison. Where is the correlation between their conclusion and the verdict? This nonchalant attitude continues to be a thorn in the side. It is like these judges are forever hypnotized by paedophiles. Sometimes I wonder if they are part of this group why they are so sympathetic towards child molesters. If the evidence is there, why are they not using the full extent of the law?
What is the difference between someone who stabs his victim to death and a paedophile that deliberately cuts out the heart and soul of an innocent child? Isn’t there a glaring distinction, separated by their intention? For sure, the first scenario could be an act that was thought-out or one that is done in the heat of the moment; however, there is absolutely no doubt that the situation with the child was calculated and conveniently carried out to suit the attacker’s agenda. Plain and simple: the act was planned, intended, wilful, premeditated and deliberate! Can this little girl survive without her heart and soul? Absolutely not! Then this is murder in the first degree!
All over the world, premeditated murder carries a heavier penalty than one that is done spontaneously. Look at the situation in Curaçao with the child molester who pretended to be a pastor. He was sentenced to 12 years and the citizens there are challenging the justice system to extend the punishment.
Young people and parents of these victims, it is time to rise up and fight for your cause because it is evident that neither government nor the justice system will defend you. The nepotism, cronyism and the creation of unnecessary jobs at the expense of taxpayers have become their focus. Sexual abuse of minors is unimportant because there is no kickback in this undertaking.
The Mighty Chalkdust of Trinidad has touched the souls of many this year with his thought provoking rendition “78 cannot go into 14.” Here on St. Maarten, 47 cannot go into nine either. When I calculate the disparity in age, both perpetrators are five times older than their victims. Just recently, there was an article in the newspaper which indicated that the reporting of sexual abuse of minors has been reduced. The reporting may be less, but there was no follow-up survey to determine why this trend has shifted. So what is the real situation of sexual abuse of little girls and boys in this community?
Our children are crying and dying at the hands of paedophiles. How long will this slaughter continue before the Ministers of Youth Affairs, Social Affairs and Justice sit up and smell the coffee? The community also needs to stand up and demand that these three ministers do their job and start protecting the children of this country. If they cannot defend the children, then how could they talk about building a nation? If these three ministers continue to neglect the issues that are destroying the youth, then they need to step down and allow others to do the job.
Chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams, you also have an obligation to protect the children of this nation; therefore, I implore you to summon these ministers to Parliament forthwith, to get a better understanding of their intention on this issue. During the deliberation, you need to stipulate a timeframe for them to devise a plan of action and execution that would benefit the children of this nation. If you cannot succeed in this endeavour, then you too need to step down and pass on the baton.
To ignore the enormous damages inflicted by paedophiles is like watching a child drown and do absolutely nothing to help. When the handful that are caught and released back into the community, then what exactly are we doing? I will borrow the famous saying from the mother of Chairlady Wescot-Williams to illustrate further: “It’s like carrying water to the sea.”
Joslyn Morton
