BASSETERRE,, St. Kitts - SEXUAL offences against women are deemed heinous crimes, so-much-so that the maximum penalty for rape is life imprisonment. But, there are those in society who are of the view that the crimes, especially against young girls, are of little significance because they either “asked for it” or opened up themselves to it.
Last Monday (Feb. 10) Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Justice Janice Pereira scolded a young man, James Ham, who had appealed his 15-year sentence for rape.
He was convicted and sentenced of forcing himself into a woman's home and raping her at knife point while her 7-year-old son was in the house.
Her Ladyship, in upholding Ham's sentence, described his crime and “heinous on any level" and "sheer violence".
She spoke of the trauma and lasting memories the victims of these offences have to live with.
Director of Public Prosecutions Travers Sinanan rose to support the Chief Justice's remarks and shed some light on the "misguided perception" of society regarding sexual abuse against woman.
He spoke passionately on the topic, stating that he was "heartened and empowered" by the Chief Justice's remarks, especially since there are instances when sexual cases go unreported.
He said society is not compassionate towards victims of such crimes.
"I came into this jurisdiction in July and I must say the stress and distraught that I feel when sexual offenses are brought before the court when it’s young girls and adult women, and society’s perception that they either look for it or they are 'too hot', and that has resulted in what can only be described as perverse learnings."
DPP Sinanan said he would have lobbied for an increase in Ham's sentence had he been represented, adding that "I am moved to say that this was one for the females in society".
"They must know that there is a court that protects their rights; they must know that there is a jurisdiction that would look after their rights and they must know that when they come to court they must get justice.
He said society’s misguided perception is one of the main causes of the victims’ decision not to report their abuse which leads to a the perpetration of injustice.
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