Help and Shelter, a domestic and sexual violence counselling agency, is strongly urging individuals, communities and organizations to take immediate and effective action to stem the rising tide of the culture of violence in the country, a release from the organization said.

The NGO notes that while many believe that the violence from bandits is now largely over, it joins with others who are alarmed at the increase in domestic violence.

Over the last few weeks, the release observed, there have been at least four reported cases in which people have been killed by those who are supposed to have loved them. There have also been other reports of choppings and beatings which have resulted in injury, the release added.

The organization said that through projects funded by the Canada Caribbean Gender Equity Fund, it has trained facilitators in different regions in Guyana. And other organizations, such as the group formerly known as St. Francis Xavier Youth Club; the Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre and the Guyanese Women in Development in Region Six; the Bartica Hope Foundation; and the Varqa Foundation’s Youth Can Move the World, have knowledge and resources which could be used to address means of preventing and dealing with domestic violence.

Moreover, Help and Shelter also encourages citizens to work with Peace Councils which can help in the non-violent resolution of intra-familial conflicts, the release stated.

Meanwhile, while congratulating the Guyana Police Force on its efforts to train officers to effectively implement the Domestic Violence Act, Help and Shelter is calling on the Force to establish domestic violence units in each of its administrative divisions and to use the trained officers as part of the community outreach programme. The organization says further it hopes the clear directive issued recently by Assistant Commissioner Henry Greene will quickly be put into effect regarding the duty of all police to ensure that victims of domestic violence have access to the law, while the perpetrators are brought to justice.