There is a culture of silence indeed, Jamaicans attest, following the Sunday Observer’s story last week about many ignoring abuse and rape, particularly by dons, as girls continue to suffer.

One Sunday Observer reader even recalled a situation where her neighbour had to secretly transport her 14 and 15-year-old daughters from a community, to get them away from the don who had suggested that he wanted the girls for a sexual relationship.

“Their mom got some little school things for them from the school treat. She didn’t know it was a quid pro quo. The don say the ‘round brown one a fi him’ and him second ago want the dark one, so she fi pack some clothes send with them ‘cause dem nah come back up and she nuh affi worry bout dem and dem ago treat dem nice,” the woman said.

She said she is still haunted by the situation.

“I never forget how my friends cried. The cousin wasn’t so lucky. Him (don) send men for her in the middle of the night and take the girl out her bed. They burned down the mother house and the rest of the family had to leave. She ended up pregnant for him at 15. Last I heard, she had couple more kids for both him and him second. I know lots more stories like this can be told… we were all in school together. Our little group was traumatised. This was from in the 80s,” she continued.

One woman who lives within the West Kingston Police Division told the Sunday Observer that she has withheld information from authorities out of fear.

“More while we have certain information but who a tell police nothing ina Jamaica? We love our life. Me rather mind my business and keep my life. Coward man keep sound bone,” the 42-year-old woman said.

“We are not accusing all the officers. We know some of them mean well. But we can’t trust the system. We might see a one police we trust because him always a come round we, but what happens when him report to fi him superior? We don’t know so it’s best we keep quiet.”

One man from the St Andrew South division said: “Them (officials) always say ‘informa fi dead culture ina the ghetto’ and then nuh realise seh a nuh badman alone a say informer fi dead. Some of the man dem walking around in police uniform, di gunman dem a dem friends. They are a clique, so you have to be careful who you go and report a person to. That is how it is from back in the days. Growing up in the ghetto, yuh grandparents tell you to see and blind, hear and deaf.”

The man further told the Sunday Observer that it is a fear that police officers conspire with area leaders.

“You see them ina party a stand up side a each other and a drink liquor. Or when party never did a get permit, you see some police pass through and collect them money and then them turn a blind eye to the party. So who knows if suh everything else work… I am not reporting anything to any police.”

Another Sunday Observer reader said there is a culture of silence because there is a culture of blaming and shaming.

“Even women are guilty of blaming and shaming other women and girls who have been abused. We have a culture that tells us that we are abused because we dress a certain way, or we go out alone or our behaviour is blamed. We don’t have a culture that tells boys and men that rape is not only disgusting but it destroys lives. And by the way, maybe we shouldn’t be calling it sexual abuse and just call it rape. Some men don’t even call it either. They call it ‘hold dung and tek’ and to them it’s fine,” she lamented.

One argued: “This happen a lot, especially in Clarendon and other country areas. Grandmothers, aunts, etcetera, facilitate this simply because they will believe in the mentality that men should mind women. So, once that man is providing money, they can get the little girl who just start buss breast.”

Last week, Senior Superintendent of Police Gary Francis, who is assigned to the Police Emergency Communication Centre of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), reiterated the age of consent for sexual intercourse, and told the Sunday Observer that the action of any person in breach of such was inexcusable.

“If the age of consent for sex in Jamaica is 16, anybody who has sex with a person under the age of 16 commits an offence. Whether he’s an area don or an ordinary man…it doesn’t matter who it is. The person who has sexual intercourse with a child commits an offence. That is the law,” he said.

The National Family Planning Board also warned that any person who participates in sexual activities with someone under age 16 may be prosecuted for statutory rape.

Meanwhile, one reader bashed dancehall artistes for praising donship culture in their music.

“Some dancehall veterans take pride in bigging up dons in their music as if it’s a thing to be encouraged and respected. Up to recently, I heard a veteran artist bigging up a don, claiming that he takes no chat from no one; hence, the don is unruly and proud.”

One person lamented that there is also sexual abuse within families.

“Girls are being raped daily in their own homes since forever. Raped, penetrated, and ejaculated in by their fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins, stepfathers, and covered up by mothers, wives, grandmothers, aunts. People choose to protect family reputation over protecting children every day,” she said.

The Sexual Offences Act states that incest is committed by a male or female who willingly has sexual intercourse with another person, knowing that the other person is related by whole blood or half blood.

A person who commits the offence of incest is liable on conviction in a Circuit Court to imprisonment for life. Incest is liable on conviction in a Circuit Court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.

Another reader said: “Jamaica needs a sex crimes unit comprised of special operations law enforcement officers willing to eradicate, purge or bring these paedophiles to justice. It has to be a grassroots effort with community liaisons and activists that can be the eyes and the ears of the unit. The church has to stop turning a blind eye to these vile acts and denounce these paedophiles.

“Create a place of refuge for families in the communities affected by the predators. More police, community support groups comprised of social workers, psychologists and medical professionals to assist with the psychological trauma associated with these paedophilic activities. The Jamaican Government must make the protection and safety of our youth a priority.”