Sexual Assault in the Eastern Caribbean

FINALLY! Something tangible to write about. It has been painfully slow around these parts of the Caribbean lately, keeping my blog at a stand still. BUT...thankfully I'm back today to report on something sensitive, yet relevant to every volunteer who serves with the Peace Corps....Sexual Assault.

I'm sure everyone can remember the one-sided ABC interview on sexual assault in the Peace Corps, where they interviewed a list of volunteers who felt the Peace Corps response to their sexual assaults/rapes weren't up to par. The crimes against the volunteers scared me, angered me and made me feel slightly uneasy. But it didn't take long to see the interview was very much one sided and showed some very negative parts of the Peace Corps. Initially watching the ABC special, I was infuriated with the Peace Corps and their response to such a terrible crime against its own volunteers. Yet, what I have seen in recent months is the honest approach and response the Peace Corps has taken to respond appropriately to the events, promising to update its policies and committing itself to volunteer support.

Yesterday, our Peace Corps Medical Officer flew from St. Lucia to hold an all day workshop on sexual assault and reporting allegations with all the volunteers of Grenada. Here is a shortened version of the updates PC has made to its response involving sexual assault and rape:

1. Eliminating the video played during Pre-Service Training on sexual assault, which placed the blame solely on the volunteer and what he/she did wrong. It was a TERRIBLE video, one that made my skin crawl with anger. We are all glad its gone.
2. Hiring a full time victims advocate, who works in D.C. and is available to any volunteer (past or present) who is a victim. 
3. Making the promise to volunteers to never place the blame on the victim, rather support them throughout the entire process, from the hospital to counseling and court proceedings.
4. Ensuring confidentiality on the part of the victim. Keeping the number of people on staff who need to know the details to a minimum. 
5. Setting up a protocol that all PC staff are trained on in the event of a sexual assault of a volunteer.

Statistics for the Eastern Caribbean related to sexual assault and rape are staggering. The most recent report out is for 2009. The Peace Corps EC currently serves six islands (St.Kitts/Nevis, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Antigua, Dominica, and Grenada), with our headquarters located in St. Lucia.

• In 2009, 15 rapes and 20 major sexual assaults were reported worldwide, among 7,671 PCVs
• 26% decline in rapes over the past 12 years.
• 34% decline in sexual assaults over the past 12 years.

Most frequently, rapes and sexual assaults against volunteers are committed by an acquaintance (43%), while 5% are coworkers and 1% are other PCVs or PC staff.  Fifty percent of the time alcohol is a factor and 85% of the time the volunteer was alone when the crime occurred.

Incidents By Country

• 40% St. Vincent
• 20% St. Lucia
• 14% Antigua
• 11% Dominica
• 9% Grenada
• 6% St. Kitts/Nevis

With third world countries often comes less than stellar police forces, where corruption and under trained officers patrol the country. Worldwide, just over 50% of perpetrators are caught, with just under 25% prosecuted. Rape trials in the States can be drawn out and painful, but equally so, trials in foreign countries can be nearly impossible to navigate. This can cause victims to drop cases, opting to return to the States and avoid long drawn out cases.

Thankfully, Grenada has one of the lowest rates of sexual assault and rape among volunteers in the EC, second to last, only to St. Kitts/Nevis. Eastern Caribbean wide, there have been 2 sexual assaults and 2 rapes amongst volunteers in the last year, which is scary. Volunteers take steps to maintain their safety at all times, keeping their guards up and ensuring they make wise decisions, but no one is completely safe from the threat of rape.

Peace Corps has a responsibility to its volunteers to keep them safe and I think they do a good job. But, in saying that, there is always room for improvement. The actions of PC headquarters in training its employees and setting up policies to protect volunteers is a step in the right direction, one that I think should be commended. Our staff in the Eastern Caribbean is one of the best around (if you ask me) and is always improving its practices, making me feel that in the event of anything happening to me, I would be supported to the fullest.

The Pride of the People

Yesterday was a joyous day in Grenada as one of its own represented the country proudly on the international scale. Eighteen year old Kirani James, from the small fishing village of Gouyave, won the IAAF World Championship in the 400m, bringing the first ever gold medal home to Grenada. Pride.

To truly understand the magnitude of this accomplishment for our small island of just 100,000 people, you first have to step foot into school play yards, village community centers, road side rum shops and island wide track meets. If kids aren't competing in cricket or football, they are running track races. Barefoot, running is in the countries blood, bringing crowds of people together around April to watch school compete against one another, often taking all day to complete. When children reach secondary school, they train daily for the day of competition that makes their school stand out amongst the rest. Pride.

Young Kirani was a favorite for years through primary and secondary school competitions. Friends, supporters and coaches knew he was destined for fame. That fame was given a chance when he signed with the University of Alabama, giving him the chance to not only compete in track on the national level, but also get an American education. Pride.

As of lately, news outlets and sports magazines have started comparing Kirani to Usain Bolt. Humbly so, Kirani simply replies, “Usain is special in his own way, but I just want to be Kirani James from Grenada.” He doesn't want compared, he just wants to make his country proud. “But whatever happens, I am just happy to be representing my country and putting Grenada on the map. That’s the most important thing.” Pride.

The country stood still for the less than one minute it took him to round the track, pass the American and claim victory for this small nation of loyal fans. At small rum shops, dozens gathered around the small 13" tv set in the corner, screaming his name and waving flags. As soon as victory was Grenada's, fans and supporters flooded the streets of Gouyave chanting his name, waving Grenadian flags, some wiping tears away. Pride.

No one can know the impact a single gold medal can have on a nation of proud people. A nation that wants the world to know its here, its thriving, and its proud of its own. Pride.

Congrats Kirani James, I wish you could be here to see the pride you are bringing to the faces of your countrymen. Grenada to d world!!!!!

Today I Am Mad...

At Peace Corps. Many times throughout my service have I felt that maybe working for the U.S. Government wasn't the greatest idea ever, but today I have been reassured of that thought. Am I just being cynical? maybe. Am I just upset? of course. Totally frustrated with life? yup!

When PC decides to jump the bandwagon on becoming completely reliant on technology to pay its volunteers, problems happen. When problems happen, PCV's get angry that they changed a perfectly working system in the first place, leaving us to hitch rides to town, beg our landlords for vegetables, stay at home when we could be working in the community and eat bread sandwiches.

So today, I will eat my bread and butter sandwich (for the third day in a row) and curse some person sitting at some fancy desk in some fancy office, situated in some comfortable air conditioned building in some first world country that has failed to pay its little worker bees at the bottom of the food chain.

Mack

Wordless Wednesday

SpiceMas 2k11

I know Carnival was like 3 weeks ago, but I have been fighting the post-Carnival cold (locally named the Tsunami) and haven't got a chance to post pictures. This was my second, and final, Grenada Carnival and it was one to truly remember. No one knows how to party like Grenadians. Enjoy!

J'ouvert morning, we saw the sun rise...with a mohawk on!

Street dancing at night? okkkkk

I mean, what's the issue?

McArthur enjoying Pretty Mas

The tin men

Jab all ova

I have no idea...

Soca Monarch night.

Angel Harps Steel Pan Champions!!!!

Sunsets Say it All

These pictures are courtesy of Grenada Explorer on Facebook, but I could NOT resist in sharing them with the world. I remember this particular night and remember thinking how incredibly gorgeous the sky looked. Life is beautiful and the best sunsets are in the Caribbean. Hands down...

I'm on House Arrest

Yup, you read that title right. I'm currently on house arrest, not allowed to leave my comfy little one bedroom apartment. No, I didn't pull a Lindsey Lohan, we are currently experiencing our first tropical storm of the hurricane season. I was awoken by 3 consecutive text messages at 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning informing me of the approaching storm. Luckily, we have this awesome Safety and Security Office (Hey Simone!) through the Peace Corps who ensures that while we are sleeping/working/living that no weather creeps up on us. So, while I was in snoozeland, the weather lady was preparing to put me on house arrest. How nice of her!

The Peace Corps has a fairly effective Emergency Action Plan for the Eastern Caribbean countries we serve. This plan provides a series of steps to be taken in the event of a hurricane, the first being Steadfast (aka house arrest), then consolidation to hotel/safe house (free air conditioning!) and finally evacuation (oh shit). Our S & S officer put us in category 1 early Sunday morning, informing us that we should gather a bag of clothes and important documents while remaining in our homes until further notice. The slowly approaching tropical storm was gaining momentum, but the tricky part of tropical storms/hurricanes is that you never know what route the storm is going to take. I don't like that feeling of uncertainty. My bag was packed quickly.

What to do while the U.S. Government puts you on house arrest? Make a bucket list, read an entire book on the Kindle, wash your clothes only to find out your spinner is broke, clean out your fridge, experiment in the kitchen, experiment again because the first time failed, pace around the house, and finally give up and take a nap. THIS IS FALSE IMPRISONMENT OBAMA!!!

Thankfully, the tropical storm spared Grenada and the other islands of the Eastern Caribbean, waiting to turn into Hurricane Emily until 50 miles to the west of us. We did receive some wicked thunderstorms though, lightning like I have never seen before. Have you ever heard thunder roll off of mountains? CRAZYYYYY sound, something I have never heard before. It reminded me of a bowling alley when the lanes are booked full. First tropical storm/hurricane of the season complete, I'm sure more to come. Stay tuned.

Also, Happy Emancipation Day to Grenada!!!!