Managing Director of Nevis Multi Line Services, Andy Liburd has issued a passionate appeal to all especially men within the society of St Kitts and Nevis to get aggressively involved in reducing violence against women.

 Liburd made this appeal during an interview with this reporter when asked what are his thoughts on a reported increase in violence against women in the federation.

Liburd said that to ensure that the fight is won in eradicating violence against women it needs the support and assistance of all involved. “Addressing the issue of violence against women is a very important issue that needs to be addressed by everyone and not only the government of the day,” Liburd said.

 The Nevis Multi Line Services Managing Director declared that violence against women and children can and must be ended immediately, but all have to speak and act unequivocally if we are going to succeed with this attempt. “We must open our mouths and raise our voices so that the world can and will understand that there are no circumstances under which such violence can be tolerated, condoned or ignored”.

 “I want to reiterate that the responsibility to stop all forms of violence against women and girls is common to all of us thus I trust that support and assistance in this regard would be forthcoming.”

 The NEMUS MD expressed the firm view that one avenue that should be explored in ending violence against women is adopting a deeper commitment to protecting women and preventing or punishing all forms of violence against women. “We can no longer allow such situations and instances to go silent any further within society as we need to stamp it out thus sending a strong message to the offenders,” he said.

 Liburd who also serves as the Vice President on the Nevis Cooperative Credit Union pointed out that there has been a significant step within the region as the issue of violence against women has been seen as “being deeply rooted in structures of gender inequality thus fueling the spread of HIV/AIDS and therefore undermining women’s ability to break the cycles of poverty that they have been plagued by.”

 He went on to state that within the Caribbean namely Belize and Guyana from the wider Caribbean and St Luca from the OECS made their voices heard far and wide through the establishment of a legislative statement on sexual harassment in the workplace.

Commenting on the issue of child protection, Liburd said that it must be reinforced to include all children at risk. “I want us to know that in an effort to do this we and should devise and implement a system of mandatory reporting. I am happy that other than Trinidad and Tobago we are the only other Caribbean country that does this thus being able to respond to all suspected cases of child abuse”.

 He added “there is an urgent need for all parents, teachers, medical personnel, guidance counselors and all who care for children must be supported in every possible way thus meeting their responsibilities through guidance for preventive and remedial actions - including recognizing signs of abuse and referring for protection and counseling.”

 Reinforcing his argument on the call for a collective approach in reducing violence against women, Liburd noted that protecting women and children requires more than improved legal, medical and social services. “I trust that the public and all concerned would recognize that eradicating this major problem called violence against women requires a common message and actions that contribute to building a culture of peace, equality and respect for human rights,” Liburd concluded.