“I was angry, upset, frighted and very scared because I thought to myself imagine they are driving a government vehicle, men who are going to people's homes collecting people's garbage that time of morning – who's to know what their plans could be when they go to someone's house.”
(CMR) A Caymanian woman was verbally assaulted Wednesday morning by several men on a Department of Environmental Health (DEH) garbage truck as she went out for a run on Shamrock Road. The matter has been reported to the police for a full investigation and prosecution the distraught victim shared.
The incident happened in the vicinity of Red Bay Primary School around 4:30 a.m. The three men made sexually explicit comments to the victim that left her “violated, shook up, shamed and disgusted”. She explained that at that moment she became fearful of what they might do next and decided to end her exercise session early.
One even remarked to her “Do you know me? I know you.” She shared that she was unable to even look at the men out of fear of what might transpire next.
The truck with the men stopped making her feel even more afraid for her own safety and she immediately contacted the police. Several attempts to reach the director of DEH were unsuccessful but she did follow-up with a visit to the police station to make a full statement. She noted that she has little hope that the authorities will do anything because the female Jamaican police officer appeared shocked by her report as her mouth “dropped open”.
The following voice note contains explicit content and listener discretion is advised. The victim's voice has been altered to protect her identify:
Despite the feelings of intimidation, she went shortly after 3:00 p.m. to make give her a formal report at the police station. She is encouraging all women to not tolerate this type of behavior of complete disrespect. “If we don't put a stop to this (type of behavior) it will get worse, it is unfair and it's not right”.
She shared with CMR that this incident brought back memories of “the Estella Scott-Roberts situation” and is determined that these men not feel that they can do this sort of thing whilst working on a government vehicle. She noted, “it is time we put our feet down and do something about it … women need to know how to protect themselves”.
Scotts-Roberts was kidnapped, raped and brutually murdered by Kirkland Henry and Larry Prinston Ricketts in October 2008 as she left her 33rd birthday celebration. They are both serving 40-year minimum prison sentences.
She is still waiting on an audience with DEH director, Richard Syms.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
