#sheissupported protest launches movement
Protest organiser Angela Pretorius (in pink shirt) 
MLAs Alva Suckoo and Bernie Bush join the protestors 
Jeri Bovell urges competent Caymanians to step into politics 
Many protest signs displayed unity with the victim of assault last weekend 
Protestors gathered outside the Glass House Friday morning 
Protestors hope domestic and workplace violence comes out of the shadows 
People protested against violent bullying 
Well known local activist Billy Adam joins the protest 
Men and women showed up Friday morning to show solidarity with victims
(CNS): A protest against domestic and workplace violence outside the Glass House on Friday morning, sparked by the violent assault of a bar manager involving the speaker of the House last weekend, was to show public support for all victims, not just the victim in this case, according to the organiser, Angela Pretorius. The event attracted a small crowd of men and women, though CNS understands that civil servants as well as staff at the bar where the victim worked had been told not to join them. However, MLA Bernie Bush (WBN), who has resigned as deputy speaker as a result of government’s lack of action following the assault, and MLA Alva Suckoo (NEW) both joined the protest.
Pointing to the recent statement by Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, which noted that the RCIPS responded to over 2,000 domestic violence-related calls in 2018, Pretorius told CNS, “This is just not acceptable, especially from the leadership of our country, and we will not just stand still and let that happen. We want to voice our concerns about violence against women.”
Surrounded by #sheissupported banners held by some of the protestors, reflecting the hashtag being used on social media — the Cayman #metoo — Pretorius said, “We want to let every women subjected to any kind of violence — physical, physiological or emotional — know that you are supported and you can come forward and there are people out there who will help you. We are standing united and we will not let this happen in Cayman.”
She said that the assault that took place the week before was the “tipping point of something greater” and has kick-started a movement. Pretorius said that when she first heard about the incident and after she read the statement from “the perpetrator”, she was upset and angry. “And for many reasons I did not like that he used mental illness as an excuse. I fully support anyone battling mental illness, but that does not make this behaviour right.”
By last Tuesday, “so many people were talking about it and it is such an important topic” that she decided to do something. “This is the start of a movement and the start of the government seeing how passionately everyone feels about this,” she said. While she was disappointed by the reaction of the government, she said she really admired Bernie Bush, saying “his statement was incredible”.
But Pretorius added, “I do wish the government had taken a different stance on it.” While understanding that they need to allow police to do their job and the difficulty they have because “the public will prosecute people before the courts do”, she said there was a need for a code of conduct for members of government, “something that does not allow this sort of behaviour to happen”.
She also expressed disappointment in female leaders. “I have not seen a single statement from a female member of the LA. I would have liked them to come forward to say something,” she said, noting that, aside from the statement from the Crisis Centre, there had been nothing from any female leaders in the community.
MLA Bush said he was happy to see how many people had come out and glad that the movement has started. But looking forward, he said, “We have to make sure that we start educating our young men about the respect they should have for women.” He said that he and MLA Chris Saunders (BTW) are currently researching what laws need to be strengthened and where to close legal loopholes regarding domestic violence.
Suckoo agreed that “the laws are not sufficiently robust”. He said that when the Standards in Public Life Law comes into effect (which happened on Sunday, 1 March), that will help, and also noted that domestic violence is already illegal under the Penal Code.
He said the perception that if the victim does not pursue the case that it cannot be pursued by the police is wrong, noting the need for more education on this. However, he said that what really needs to be tackled is the cultural acceptance of domestic violence “and this sort of thing being pushed under the rug”.
“We need to expose it now,” he said. “I’ve said publicly that I’ve never hit a woman and I never will… That’s how I was raised and I was raised by a very strong woman who would be very disappointed if I did something like that. We need to make sure that our young guys know that it is totally unacceptable. You don’t do this sort of thing under any circumstance.”
He said he was there to show solidarity for the victims of all forms of violence and to listen “because I want to hear what people have to say about it and what they expect me to do as a representative”.
Jeri Bovell, who joined the protest with a sign that read: “Competent Caymanians needed now”, thinks that part of the problem is the standard of political representation. Government leaders are “tied up with personal interest”, she said. “We need educated younger Caymanians and first generation Caymanians who are experienced in the world and understand global politics and political issues.”
Violence is a human rights issue, she said. “We need protection, not only for Caymanians but all residents who are contributing to society.” But she also noted that it was not just women who are victims.
“There are men who suffer from domestic assault; this is not a single-sex issue. This is an issue of anger, of frustration and of uneducated people holding positions where they lord over others,” she said.
Just as the victims can be men or women, it’s up to leadership of both sexes to fix the problem, she said. Whether solutions come from women or men doesn’t matter, “as long as they are educated and transparent and ethical and maintain a modicum of morality”.
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Category: Local News
It is very disheartening to know what is happening here in this country. Imaging for this type of thing to happen and not even an aresst made and charges brought the perpetrator? Unbelievable
after i divorced..broke…homeless…i couldnt run to the govt as women can? to the shelter? yet i had 2 kids to feed? man’s world is dificil
I don’t mean to take away from your problems. Sometimes life’s problems can seem insurmountable, but you should try getting yer ass kicked by Cayman’s first and worst. That’s not a barrel of laughs either.
I think that candidates need to publish club memberships, including the Masons, so people can cast there votes accordingly.
That has been tried. They lie.
“The event attracted a small crowd of men and women, though CNS understands that civil servants as well as staff at the bar where the victim worked had been told not to join them.” Wow, all I can say is wow.
In some ways, on some days, Cayman’s laws and culture suck.
Not that my country isn’t going to hell in a hand basket of deplorables.
“This is an issue of anger, of frustration and of uneducated people holding positions where they lord over others,” she said.
Nailed it. This is what’s wrong with Cayman. Period.
So where’s Mr miller? He’s raising the most hell, why wasn’t he there?
Sun too hot.
And by mid month there will be marching about something else ,
So many oppressors and rich Un-enlightened jerk wads. So little time.
People should be marching seven days a week.
Not you though. You just stay where you are and drink to superiority.
Until these overstuffed politicians are ousted out of government and we vote in competent people nothing will change it is that simple. Politicians will only get away with what we allow them to get away with. They have abused their power, country, money and now the people (literally). Cayman stay woke all of you, regardless of where you originate. I am sick to my stomach of each and every politician with the exception of Ezzard Miller.
It is nothing short of disgusting that the Premier and his cabal have refused to make any statement condemning the admitted conduct and have taken no steps to remove the perpetrator. They have lost what little respect they deserved, and the very fact that they have written a law making themselves “forever honorable” is an affront to basic human decency given their lack of testicular or ovarian fortitude.
Mr. Ezzard Miller, Sir, may I respectfully ask that you present a motion repealing any provisions of law that automatically deem apparent scum to be honorable. Let the public convey to and bestow respect upon those who the community and polite decent behavior deems worthy of it.
Don’t repeal it, pass another one adding “dis” to the front.
There are uniquely paradoxical exemptions for booze in the Cayman Islands. Even a basic prohibition on being “drunk and disorderly”, which might seem a reasonable constraint anywhere else, would disqualify most of our MLAs, all of the serial DUI crashing hopefuls for 2021, all of the cow-cod wielding dominos players, and quite a lot of our judiciary.
All the MLA’s that didn’t come out against the actions of the pos in WB are going to use “ongoing case” but it’s really initially conflicted interests.
Agreed. The ongoing case thing is just a coward’s way of trying to dodge the issue. Firstly, there is no ongoing case, secondly Mac admitted it and thirdly they are protected by parliamentary privilege (the same thing they relied on to get away with their homophobic hate speeches).
The longer this takes the more the public will lose interest and move on.
That is Mac and his lawyers game to yet again get away with disgraceful, if not illegal, behavior.
so what about men???? men get abised too??? why not we support all abuse. NOT just women?
CNS: Read the article all the way through to the end.
Reading is hard
You support all abuse? Good to know.
You funny
#heisnot