By Dr. Neals J. Chitan
Over the past month, the Federation of St. Kitts-Nevis was rocked by two incidences of violence against women that created deep concerns not only among local women’s rights groups but among the wider regional community.
The village of Keys on the eastern side of St. Kitts was severely traumatized by a double homicide that brutally claimed the lives of two young sisters Naomi and Jimmyliah Finch, aged 18 and 20 respectively, at the hands of the neighbor, a 34-year-old male, who was allegedly romantically involved with one of the sisters.
This incident plunged the Federation under a thick blanket of communal grief and pain as neighbours, friends, citizens and politicians alike tried to recover from this impact and come to terms with the reality of such a barbaric act in their lovely “Sugar City” nation.
However, before these young ladies could be laid to their final rest, another barbaric act of violence towards women exploded across social media, unconscionably broadcasting the brutal beating of another young woman, Auriana Richards a Form 5 student of Charlestown Secondary School in Nevis, at the hands of two brothers, students of the same school.
As the scenes of this horror movie played out, one brother can be seen pinning her down on the ground in front a crowd of student while the other brother armed with what seemed as a piece of metal pipe beats her mercilessly indiscriminately all over her body. This warped sense of excitement and entertainment was so exhilarating to the onlookers, that the “high” they were enjoying created an emotional block from rational thinking, totally preventing them from stretching an empathetic finger to help rescue her from this physically and emotionally painful ordeal.
This second incident compounded the impact of the first and quickly sent the Federation into an anti-feminine tailspin which left serious questions as to how to mitigate the impact of these men-on-women tragedies and how avoid them in the future.
As a social skill consultant who is currently engaging our “Moving On Up” Grade 6 – High School Transition Program in twenty six primary schools across St. Kitts-Nevis, we hope see a reduction in such incidences as we inspire and equip all students entering the eight high schools across the Federation for the 2018-2019 school year with concepts and strategies that will help them to be more; respectful, empathetic, focused, determined and successful.
It was in one of these Grade 6 sessions at the Ivor Walters Primary School- the junior alma mater of Premier Mark Brantley, that I decided to give the students the unscripted and unrehearsed opportunity to add their voices in sending feelings of empathy and cheer to Auriana Richards the victim, with whom I was going to meet with soon after.
With camera rolling, I interviewed these Grade 6 students, giving them the opportunity to express their feelings. (The complete interview can be seen on YouTube under caption “Dr. Chitan’s interview with Grade 6 in Nevis”)
Leanna Liburd, the eleven-year-old president of the student council expressed “It was a terrible thing that happened, and I felt very sad for her.” Liburd further agreed to do all she can in her power as president to encourage boys to be more respectful to girls.
Another girl, Janiyah Wilkin expressed “I felt really bad for her how she was beaten and nobody came to help her.” It brought hope to hear a Grade 6 student addressing the major concern of onlookers unsympathetically enjoying the action with no one helping the victim. Young Janiyah further spoke out about how evil it was to video it and put it on social media while finally sending a message of support to Aurianna, “Don’t worry, everything will be alright,” she said.
However, the words of love, support and empathy that stuck in my head that day and brought hope were the words of the last boy interviewed, Timothy Frazer. When asked about his feelings about the incident, with a sombre look on his face and teary eyes he said, “I feel sorry for her and I feel her pain. Tell her God is going to heal her pain and will take care of everything.”
Ladies and gentlemen, could I have said it better? I don’t think so!! What a message of hope to bring to a young lady despite the physical and emotional pain she sustained-and look who it came from!! Not the clergy, not the counselor, not even from adults but from children.
As I showed Auriana the video and she heard the voices of love, support and empathy, she again got choked up and emotional, but this time not from the brutal beating she received weeks before but from the care and wishes of caring primary school boys and girls.
The question is, “Amidst the callousness of the crime and violence we are seeing in the 21st century, is there hope for empathy, sympathy and care?” Ivor Walters Primary School has answered the question with a resounding “YES”.
On behalf of young Timothy Frazer, I also say to the family of Naomi and Jimmyliah Finch and the nation on a whole, even if their death caused so much pain, “God will heal the pain and take care of everything!!”
