Rising Domestic Violence Figures Prompt Calls For Cultural Change
From 2010 to 2024, thirty-three thousand, four hundred and eighty-nine cases of domestic violence were reported to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
It is a staggering figure, reflecting a sustained and troubling national pattern. Attorney-at-law Prakash Ramadhar insists these are not just numbers; they are a clear call for a total societal reset.
A sustained pattern of domestic violence across the country continues to be observed, based on the 2010–2024 data compiled by the Central Statistical Office from police records, showing that a total of 33,489 cases of domestic violence were reported.
A collaborative initiative led by Attorney-at-law Prakash Ramadhar, clinical psychologist Dr Valini Pandit, and attorney Saira Lakhan aims to address domestic violence and its underlying influences.
Psychologist Dr Valini Pandit described domestic violence as more than physical abuse that often turns into a form of psychological captivity.
« It’s not about hitting, it’s not about visible injury, but it is a pattern of control. Control of your movements, control of your finances, control of your thoughts, of your identity. Not just in real life but extending into the digital world as well. »
« Creating an environment where victims feel safe to speak out is essential. Attorney-at-law Prakash Ramadhar explains that this safety is a fundamental part, just as upholding the rule of law is. »
« Public understanding and empathy are equally critical. When survivors come forward, they should be met with support rather than judgement; simplifying their experiences into questions of why didn’t they leave, risks overlooking the real dangers and constraints they may have faced. At the same time, it is important to uphold respect for the rule of law. Each situation must be assessed on its own facts within the framework of a legal system which seeks to balance individual rights, accountability, and justice. »
The attorney is calling for a societal shift, stating that real change happens when families and religious institutions teach the youth to live out core values rather than just speaking of them.
President of the Assembly of Southern Lawyers, Saira Lakhan, echoed these sentiments, calling for a review of norms within our society that normalise bad conduct.
« We need to speak honestly about the culture in Trinidad and Tobago because we have condoned and allowed, as a society, too much bad conduct in relationships, where it’s normalised before it becomes criminal. It is laughed off when we have jokes, lyrics and songs about infidelity, verbal abuse, jealousy, control and it’s just part of how relationships work now in Trinidad and Tobago. »
