00:00Dr. Tilok Singh, a lecturer at the University of the West Indies and founder of International Men's Day,
00:07is weighing in on the legal implications of such cases, as concerns grow over investigative standards,
00:14reputational damage and the broader issue of men's rights.
00:18He says the court system must be strengthened, stressing that cases must be grounded in evidence and not hearsay.
00:27The justice system in Trinidad-Bago has been compromised.
00:32I'm using the word compromised in a nice way.
00:35I could say biased, I could say corrupt, I could say there's a need for reform,
00:41but there's a need to re-examine the justice system.
00:44In one of the cases, amongst the seven men, I think the man had to wait 14 years, one for,
00:52until this trial was overturned.
00:54He is also calling for stricter legislative measures to address false allegations,
01:00including provisions for compensation for individuals who have been wrongfully accused and later cleared.
01:07These men would have been suffering in prison, would have probably been abused,
01:12and we need to put legislation to ensure either the state, maybe the state might have to get sued,
01:17and then they might decide to put legislation, but certainly these men have to be compensated for what they underwent,
01:25and it's either the false victims' pay or the state.
01:30Dr. Tilok Singh adds that the impact extends beyond the courtroom, affecting livelihoods and long-term social standing.
01:40You know, the loss of fatherhood, the loss of possibly a breadwinner in a family.
01:47Some of these men might end up being homeless men, they might have to go to the St. Anne's Hospital
01:52because of this situation.
01:54So society has to see the repercussions. It's not just seven men, it's seven families.
01:59He tells the Morning Edition, there is also a need for targeted education initiatives for boys and young men,
02:07through schools, social media and public awareness programs,
02:11aimed at promoting responsible conduct and awareness, serving as a preventative approach.
02:19Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
02:22Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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