A case of alleged false imprisonment and abuse in Penal has sparked national outrage following the circulation of disturbing videos on social media.
Community activist and Vice President of the Red Cross, Edward Moodie, who played a key role in identifying the victim and reconnecting her with her family, says early reports seriously understated the scale of the ordeal.
According to Mr. Moodie, the woman was taken from her mother’s home under the promise of employment as a domestic worker. Instead, she allegedly endured years of forced labour and physical abuse.
“The reporting, which said basically it was seven months that she had been abducted for. It is more than seven years this woman has been away from her family. She was taken from the mother’s house. She thought she was going to get a maid job and it turned out to be slavery reenacted.”
Another viral video of a man being beaten led Mr. Moodie to begin an investigation. He said that, with the help of another activist, the man and later the woman were rescued.
“Activist Vicky Rampersad was very, very instrumental in working with me and getting information. She went viral on it, condemning it at every level, and people started sending in videos, stories of that family and what they were doing to others. So I took the gentleman first to the police station. There was a lot of hesitation.”
Mr. Moody alleges that efforts to file police reports were initially met with resistance, requiring intervention at senior levels of the Police Service.
“Police officers are not trained in basic first response for medical issues, even psychological first aid and dealing with people at that level. We have a real limitation in the Police Service. I am not condemning the present Commissioner who’s trying his best. I’m not condemning Gary Griffith who did his best. What I’m saying is that police officers need to be trained in detail with dealing with these cases. My biggest fear, and still is, is that woman getting the proper counselling.”
Now, with the involvement of Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services, Vandana Mohit, and Councillor Shanti Boodram, efforts are underway to place the woman in a safe house.