Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud is calling for a national conversation on what she describes as a growing cycle of abuse, trauma, and unhealthy family relationships affecting Guyanese society.
In a video message shared on social media, the minister said many of the troubling behaviours being witnessed in homes, schools, and communities stem from unresolved pain that is often passed from one generation to the next.
“We often hear the phrase ‘hurt people hurt people’, but it goes much deeper than that,” Persaud said, suggesting that untreated emotional pain and trauma are contributing to cycles of domestic violence, child abuse, and family dysfunction.
The minister argued that society has become accustomed to survival mode, often overlooking emotional neglect and verbal abuse while focusing only on physical violence.
“We punish children for showing the exact same big emotions we were taught to suppress. We confuse compliance with respect and fear with good behaviour,” she stated.
According to Persaud, incidents involving children fighting, bullying, and conflicts between parents and children have become increasingly common. She expressed concern that some forms of discipline continue to be accepted despite causing lasting emotional harm.
The minister said she regularly encounters reports of children being subjected to degrading language by their own parents and guardians, warning that such experiences can leave deep psychological scars that persist into adulthood.
“Parents call them a rat or tell them they are ugly. This kind of constant abuse and negative messaging leaves wounds that children carry with them for life,” she said.
While emphasising that discipline remains an important aspect of parenting, the minister maintained that violence, humiliation, and emotional abuse should never be used as disciplinary tools.
“I do not support embarrassing children and young people in front of their peers or in public. These things have such deep-seated scars,” she noted.
The minister also highlighted several support services available through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, including parenting programmes, the Family Enhancement Service, the Child Protection Agency, and probation services aimed at supporting vulnerable families.
She encouraged parents who feel overwhelmed to seek assistance and make use of the resources available.
Persaud said addressing the issue will require more than government intervention, stressing that communities, families, and individuals must all be willing to confront difficult realities and challenge harmful behaviours that have become normalised.
Describing the issue as one that “goes deeper”, the minister announced plans to continue the discussion through community engagements across the country, including upcoming visits to Region Two.
She said meaningful change will only occur when society collectively addresses the root causes of abuse and dysfunction, creating healthier environments for future generations.
