Sunday, March 3 2013

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Men came out in their numbers yesterday to show their support for the Flaming Word Ministry's Men March Against Child Abuse - Protecting Our Nation's ...

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President of Flaming Word Ministries Bishop Dave Alleyne yesterday condemned the gruesome deaths of cousins Dale and Jerome Ramsahai.

“Two young men are tied up with barbed wire and burnt to death. How darker can we get as country? he asked participants at the start of a march against child abuse at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.

The march, organised by Flaming Word Ministries and Child Line, sought to encourage men to do their part in eradicating child abuse in the society. Among the groups participating in the march were the Civilian Conservations Corps, the New Millennium Knights and the Joy Riders’ Crew.

Alleyne said the deaths of the young men reflected the fact that Trinidad and Tobago was “on the edge of the precipice.”

The charred remains of the two men were found in a trunk of a Nissan Tiida car at 3 and 3/4 mile mark, Heights of Guanapo, Arima, at about 12.15 am on Friday. Police believe the men were first shot in the head, tied and placed in the trunk of the Nisaan Tiida car, which was then set on fire.

Alleyne also spoke out against the recent killing of Learie Ceballo, whose head was severed and placed on a doubles stand.

“You cut off that head and you travel with it and then put it on a doubles stand. I mean, if we do not do something drastic, we are at the edge of the precipice,” he said.

The outspoken pastor lamented that many people in the country were merely offering lip service to the issue of child abuse, “but how many people are really doing something about it.”

“Everybody is seeking some form of mileage, whether it is for political gain or otherwise, but when it comes to brass tax, where are they?” he asked.

Alleyne also took a jab at persons involved in religious ministry, saying they too must take some blame for the lack of decisive action in tackling child abuse.

“You pray and pray but after you pray, you must get up,” he said.

Alleyne said despite the nation’s wealth and the huge sums spent on commissions of enquiry over the years, the process for comprehensively addressing abuse, generally, in the country was far too slow.

He said avenues must be created to protect and rehabilitate persons who have been abused in the society.

Sgt Wayne Mystar, who also attended the march, said the abuse of children fell within the same bracket as persons who have been victims of violent crimes.

“Do not keep child abuse a secret. Bring it to the forefront and let’s stamp out this scourge,” he said.