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03rd
April 2010
Airing Dirty
Laundry?
Stan Bishop
(Photo)
Taj Weekes joins women in their stance against
gender-based violence last Tuesday.
There
were more tee shirts with messages against domestic
violence than there were people willing to show
solidarity for the cause. But organizers say
last Tuesday’s activity at the Derek Walcott
Square is nonetheless a serious one.
The activity was the culmination of a programme
of activities in observance of International
Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8. Dubbed
the “Clothesline Project,” the focus
was to sensitize the general public about gender-based
violence, especially in cases where women and
girls are the primary targets.
St. Lucia-born international musician Taj Weekes,
one of the collaborators on the project, spoke
to The VOICE on the new concept.
“In the Caribbean, domestic violence is
the sort of thing that is hidden under the table,”
Weekes said. “So this is merely a way
of starting a conversation in an effort to bring
it out in the open. Hopefully, we can keep talking
about it and move toward a direction where it’s
an open thing and people are not afraid to say
they’re being abused.”
Weekes said he adopted the idea for the initiative
from the U.S. where he currently resides. In
fact, he has his own “Traveling Exhibition,”
and has showcased it in two arenas so far –
Massachusetts and St. Lucia. He said the idea
is a staple in most of the American states.
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Members of the
public had the opportunity to paint whatever
anti-violence messages they wanted on the
tee shirts supplied by Weekes and the Department
of Gender Relations. The tee shirts were then
hung to dry on clotheslines in the Square,
depicting the obvious symbolism of not letting
some of society’s dirtiest little secrets
go unnoticed.
Weekes said the tee shirts from both camps
will be on display again in November when
Domestic Abuse Month will be observed. In
the interim, though, he will be displaying
– and building up -- his collection
of tee shirts in several islands across the
region to raise awareness on the scourge of
domestic violence and its negative impact
on society.
Louise Victor, general secretary of the National
Youth Coucil, was one of the many speakers
at Tuesday’s public rally. She believes
the activity is just one small step that can
lead to eradicating a giant common problem.
Other speakers on the day included Anthony
Avril of the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association,
Valerie Albert-Poyotte of Education International,
Charms Gaspard of the Department of Gender
Relations, Minister of Home Affairs and National
Security, Guy Mayers, and Taj Weekes.
Calypsonian Lady Leen closed the proceedings
with a rendition of her “woman power”
anthem, “Woman In A March.”
Discuss
Story
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