I have just read the recent letters from the friends of St. Helena on Facebook. I was very impressed with what I read.
Although, I do feel that it has come far too late for many of us. I wish the professionals working with vulnerable people the best of luck. When I was growing up on St Helena there wasn’t anyone or anywhere to report abuse. You basically had to put up with it and get on with it.
I lived with domestic violence for all of my childhood. My grandfather was vile and violent most of the time. I wish that at the time I had someone or somewhere that I could turn to for help. But there was nothing.
I did read in the St. Helena petition that people were writing that a good beating didn’t do them any harm. I strongly disagree. I feel that violence breeds violence. Furthermore, verbal abuse is just as bad if not worse at times.
I would like to see a safe house on St. Helena for victims of abuse. My grandmother and I, like many other victims endured years of abuse and domestic violence as there was simply no safe place for us to go.
I urge you all as the leaders of our island, to help install a safe place for all victims to turn to in a time of need. I myself am setting up an 0800 number service for people to call in a time of need to help assist them with there issues and console them.