Michael Abrahams | He beat her with a stool

I saw the video. The man grabbed, pulled, shoved, and hit the woman multiple – at least 15 – times. He hit her with his bare hands, with an object I was unable to identify, and several times with a stool. He beat the woman with a stool.

The video shows two parked vehicles, one behind the other. A woman is seen standing at the front left window of the vehicle in the rear, apparently speaking to someone inside. The front door on the right side opens and a man alights from it. He walks around to the space between the two vehicles to meet and confront the woman, and they continue conversing.

Things soon become physical. He hit her, grabbed her, and pulled her to the side of the vehicle in front, the one she drove, where he continued his attack. The woman attempted to fight back, and that is when the beating intensified. She was no match for her bigger and stronger aggressor. He shoved her against the vehicle and pummelled her. He had an object in his hand that he used to rain blows on her. After several strikes, it fell to the ground and he held her firmly against her vehicle while he bent down to retrieve it.

But the thrashing did not stop there. As he held her with his left hand, he reached for a nearby stool with his right, and swung it violently at her, striking what appeared to be her head and upper body. But that was still not enough. He struck her forcefully with it again, as if he were attempting to slaughter a wild animal. She managed to free herself from his grasp and attempt to run to safety, but he ran after her with the stool to inflict more blows.

PROBE INTO ALLEGATIONS

The video began to circulate on April 10, and at that time, allegations were being made that the man in the video was a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) member of parliament (MP). On April 12, 2021, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange asked the police to probe the allegations.

She said she was “deeply disturbed” by the video and the allegation that an MP was involved, further stating, “We cannot condone any act of gender-based or family violence; we cannot turn a blind eye”. The same day, a newspaper reported that the Hanover police were seeking Westmoreland Central JLP MP George Wright as a “person of interest” in a case of assault that occurred in Chester Castle district. Wright turned himself in to the police for questioning, accompanied by his attorney, on April 16, two days after he was asked to do so, and was released without charge.

It was later revealed in a Jamaica Constabulary Force statement that on the day of the incident, both Wright and the woman in the video, Tannisha Singh, made independent reports of a physical altercation. Singh made the report at the Anchovy Police Station, and was apparently so battered and bruised that, according to the JCF statement, “the police escorted her to a medical facility to ensure she received treatment”.

The police stated, however, that “the investigation into the alleged incident has come to an end at this time … as a result of the unwillingness of the parties involved and potential witnesses to participate in the investigation, as well as the poor quality of the video alleged to have captures the incident “.

On April 16, the JLP announced that Wright is to be sent on a “leave of absence” from the party until their investigations into the incident are concluded.

UNACCEPTABLE

Wright’s alleged actions are unacceptable. He has not publicly denied assaulting Singh. His lawyer has not proclaimed his innocence. The fact that the police case will not go further at this time is irrelevant.

So, just what is the JLP investigating? Why is there not an en masse rebuke from the party? Where are the voices of the women, apart from Minister Grange, in the party? Prime Minister Andrew Holness said “any act of violence must be unequivocally condemned and totally rejected”. However, he has failed to publicly address his colleague.

The response from his party has been lacklustre and disappointing. This incident occurred while a series of violent, sometimes lethal, attacks against women were being reported in traditional and social media. The Government had an excellent opportunity to show the people of Jamaica that they have a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women, but they squandered that opportunity. Their level of tolerance is unacceptable.

Our women and girls deserve better.

Michael Abrahams is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, social commentator, and human-rights advocate. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and michabe_1999@hotmail.com, or Twitter @mikeyabrahams.