Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, believes much of the ongoing violence in Guyana are perpetrated by toxic men, and so, he made a plea for urgent change, beginning firstly in schools and homes firstly.“Of course the men are insecure, dysfunctional, they can’t handle the fact maybe somebody who is perhaps their daughter, is better educated more eloquent, intelligent and responsible than they themselves.“I am saying this because all of the great troubles we have relate to male behaviour. We think we got money power, physical power, sexual power and we must all be on top,” Minister Benn stated bluntly at a recent forum.Minister Benn emphasised the need to directly engage men and change these harmful cultural norms.“We have to speak to men. They must not pass a policeman on the road playing dirty music in their car or minibus. It is that culture, [the catcalling] women in marketplaces, the loud vulgarity, the harassment, it won’t change unless we take action,” Benn said.The Minister’s remarks come amidst a disturbing spate of violent crimes, many involving male perpetrators and female victims, which have rocked communities across Guyana in recent months.“Much of our problems in Guyana relates to the behaviour of men. We men are the worst examples, we men have to be better.“The Police Force have the difficult and invidious task of dealing with bad men and the Prison Service have 2,000 men like that in the prison, I think they are only 75 bad ladies in the prison and they are the best of prisoners,” Benn revealed.Between January and July 2025, the News Room reported about 11 instances were women were killed by their ex partners and in one case, a young woman was murdered by her stepfather while another case involved the murder of a woman during a robbery.In January, 34-year-old Bibi Fazila Ally, a school cleaner, was murdered by her former partner, Bidraj Ganesh, just a month after ending their eight-year relationship. Ganesh later took his own life.In that same month, three men, including a businessman and two fishermen, confessed to their involvement in the brutal murder of Parbhudai Boodhram during a robbery at Belle West, West Bank Demerara. All three men were charged and remanded to prison.In February, Parsuram Arjune was remanded for brutally beating his wife and mother-in-law, Shameeza Mohamed, who later died.Also in February, Kenesha Vaughn, a young mother was shot and killed by her partner, Marlan DaSilva. DaSilva is on remand while the case is before the court.In April, 34-year-old Kevin Cadogan allegedly set his partner Mezona Ronaldo on fire at Moblissa, Linden/Soesdyke Highway. Ronaldo succumbed to her injuries hours after the incident and Cadogan died a day later.Also in April, Marissa Beete, 30, was killed by her ex-boyfriend, convicted drug trafficker Ghalee Khan. Khan was charged and remanded to prison.In another April incident, Parmanand Ramdial shot and killed his wife, 25-year-old Maline LaCruz, her mother Waveney LaCruz, 50, and her younger sister, 16-year-old SueAnn LaCruz. A fourth victim, Maline’s brother, 23-year-old Seon LaCruz was injured. Ramdial then took his own life.In May, Cuban national Davely Morales was hacked to death by her stepfather in Pike Street, Kitty. The stepfather, Wispriey Alfonso, was charged and remanded to prison.The most recent incident occurred in July, where 26-year-old Jenel Pollydore was shot and killed at a wedding reception in Linden by her abusive ex-partner, who she had obtained a restraining order against.The suspect, 21-year-old Shaka Vaughn Phillips, was charged and remanded to prison.In response, Minister Benn said the government is planning to ramp up public education and outreach, beginning in schools, homes and then extend to newspapers, magazines, and social media, with the aim of reshaping masculinity.The post Benn says toxic men are driving force behind violence in Guyana appeared first on News Room Guyana.