Statia to raise awareness of domestic violence & abuse

Policy advisor for Rights of the Child and Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Cherida Creebsburg (second left), local NuStar manager Terrence Keogh (third left), exemplary father Roberson Hercules (fifth right), Carol Cuvalay (second right) and NuStar employees.

ST. EUSTATIUS–The Public Entity of St. Eustatius, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport VWS, has initiated a project to create awareness and openness of domestic violence and child abuse in the community.

  Domestic violence and child abuse also occurs in Statia, says Policy Advisor for Rights of the Child and Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Cherida Creebsburg.

  This is due to various factors, such as learned behaviour, unemployment, addiction or just misunderstanding about these issues.

  Soon an information campaign will start on Statia, but today, Wednesday, a delegation including two fathers will be traveling to St. Maarten to be part of an informational evening where the importance of fatherhood, and the fathering of young boys in particular, will be discussed.

  In this discussion Wendell De Leon will discuss how parenting and socialization are contributing factors to whether a community experiences domestic violence. 
  The Safety Net Team selected “exemplary fathers in the community” Roberson Hercules and Shawn Lester. These two fathers make a conscious effort to play an important role in the life of their children.

  Both fathers are employed at NuStar and were granted time off and also received full sponsorship to cover the cost to attend.

  “We would like to highlight good examples as much as possible so that we can learn from each other. We believe that parents, fathers and mothers, want the best for their children. They want to be loving parents. Some know what they need because they have experienced it growing up, and others do not know how to do it,” the Department of Women’s Affairs said.

  The goal is to look at how the community can support and learn from one another by looking for ways to work together “where safety and warmth within the family becomes the most common cause of our society so that we can have a new, healthy generation”

  Besides Creebsburg, Carol Cuvalay and Adonis Haynes will also be travelling to St. Maarten.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/68795-statia-to-raise-awareness-of-domestic-violence-abuse