By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

ACTIVIST Terneille Burrows yesterday said United Democratic Party Leader Greg Moss’ dismissal of claims of cyber bullying by his party’s chairman is a very disturbing consistent trend from this country’s elected officials, which shows a blatant disregard for violence against women.

Gender-based violence, she said, plagues The Bahamas, and no efforts are being made towards its elimination. She said in order for this to happen, government leaders must demonstrate a zero tolerance approach.

On Monday, Mr Moss announced that he had been elected leader of the newly formed party. C Allen Johnson is the party’s chairman.

Ms Burrows said: “Instances such as these convey the blatant disregard that some of our politicians express regarding violence against women. It will no longer be tolerated.

“Rather than dismissing the criticism against Johnson as a distraction from the merits of their party, a more responsible action would have been to refrain from making any comment until he reviewed the content in question.

“More than a third of all women worldwide – 35.6 per cent – will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, usually from a male partner, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Cyber bullying is an act of violence.”

Her comments came after The Tribune asked the Marco City MP on Tuesday about whether there were any concerns that Mr Johnson may bring the new party into disrepute.

Shortly after Mr Moss announced the formation of his new party, a video from 2013 resurfaced online showing Mr Johnson making derogatory comments about a woman.

Some observers on social media questioned whether Mr Moss held the same convictions concerning women as his chairman who was involved in a bitter spat on Facebook with the woman in 2013.

“No I have no concerns about that. I hold his character to be in high esteem. I think he is one of the brightest minds so I don’t have any concerns,” Mr Moss told The Tribune on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, Ms Burrows announced her intention to run as an independent candidate for the Elizabeth constituency in the next general election.

In statement she said the notion that a “corrupt government can only be overthrown through a violent revolution is hogwash”.