BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT is a horrific incident that will forever live in the mind of Lynette (not her real name). It speaks to that early morning while on her way home from a party when she was brutally sexually assaulted; a violation of her womanhood. Today, in her traumatised state, she is earnestly calling on the authorities to employ whatever means possible to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Lynette is one of two women who were sexually assaulted in the wee hours of Saturday, October 17.
Recounting the events of that unforgettable morning, Lynette told SKNVibes that she had attended a party at the Sandy Point Fishermen’s Cooperative building in Pump Bay and was on her way home shortly after 3:00 a.m. when two masked men attacked her.
“They came down from the steps of the retaining wall on the southern side of Bouncing Hill. One of them had a gun and the other one had a chopping knife. They grabbed me and asked me where the money is? I said what money, I have no money…did you all give me money? I don’t have any money! Would I go to party with money? And the one with the gun said, ‘Hush yuh mouth.’ I responded by saying, ‘Me arm [calling a name], yuh ah rob me, how yuh get suh? He said, ‘Hush, hush, leh me do all de talking.’ I responded by telling him that he can’t do all the talking when I’m the one being robbed,” Lynette said.
Lynette said even though she was scared, she tried to engage the masked men in conversation “to see if I could have recognised their voices”. She however claimed that during the verbal exchange with the gunman, “the next fellow put the chopping knife to my neck”, and in an attempt to ward him off, she raised her hand and was cut in the process.
Lynette explained that immediately after being cut she lost consciousness, and “when I wake up I was in a sitting position at the entrance of the dirt track that leads from the ghaut up to Bouncing Hill”.
“My shoes were beside me and when I made a physical check of my person, I concluded that they had taken off my pants and underwear and hurriedly put them back on. Both pieces of garment were very dirty and I also realised that I was sexually abused. They had also robbed me of $45,” she added.
After the ordeal, Lynette said she began running in the direction of her home and was assisted in getting there by the driver of a white vehicle who was passing at the time. “It was about 5:00 a.m.”
In response to the reason for her being unconscious, the young woman said both men were wearing gloves and she suspected that in her state of fear one of them might have drugged her, but she could not say how it was done.
The incident was reported to the authorities at the Sandy Point Police Station and she was also examined by a medical practitioner, whom she claimed took a Pap smear.
One of Lynette’s worst fears is being infected. “Only last month I did a HIV test which proved negative. But not knowing if those masked men who assaulted me are infected with the virus, not only makes me feel unclean but also fearful. After informing the doctor about the test I did, I was told that I have to wait until six months have passed before another test could be done in order to be certain of the results. I am doubly traumatised.”
Lynette said that she had called a male friend a few hours after her ordeal and was told that it is rumoured in the area that some young men have been robbing and raping unsuspecting women.
“I do not believe that I’m the first to have had this horrible experience. There may have been others and they are ashamed to go public, but I’m not afraid to speak out because silence will only encourage those unscrupulous beasts to continue attacking us,” a tearful Lynette lamented.
Lynette declared that apart from bringing this criminal act to the attention of the police in order for them to employ a strategy in capturing and taking the perpetrators before the court, she wanted to alert the women in her area and also those in other parts of the Federation, “I would like to use this opportunity to warn all women, especially those in my hometown, that whenever you attend a party or any social gathering, do not walk alone; walk in groups.
Even though an area might be facilitated with adequate street lights, predators may still be lurking and awaiting the smallest of opportunities to pounce on you, especially late at nights or early in the mornings. I have had my share of humiliation and violation, but don’t let this happen to you. It’s too traumatic and you may not be as fortunate as me to escape with your life. So, please be careful and, remember, do not walk alone late at nights.”
SKNVibes checked with the police in Sandy Point and was referred to the Headquarters in Basseterre, where the Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Cromwell Henry, confirmed that the incident did occur but noted that no one was held responsible.
He however declared that the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas, had ordered that the police must do all in their powers to bring the offenders to justice, and he has also indicated that the government would do whatever it could to have this matter and the one in Basseterre investigated to the fullest.
