Sexually aggressive migrant workers affecting life in Leamington (With video)
This document is controversial
- Date
2013-08-30
- Authors
Trevor Wilhem
- Newspaper title
The Windsor Star
- Full text
LEAMINGTON – Some women in town say catcalls and stalking from sexually aggressive migrant workers have become so pervasive that they’ve changed the way they act and appear in public.
Linda Tessier said she stopped going out at night when large groups of workers gather around town.
“They sometimes ask me if I’m free or single, if I want to go home with them,” said Tessier. “I get nervous, I refuse to go shopping Friday nights. When I’m on my bike, I catch them following me. In the summertime, I’m nervous about being around by myself. It’s scary. When you can’t feel free to walk around in your own town, there’s something wrong. It changes the way you dress, the way you live, the way you talk, everything.”
The issue came up this week at a police board meeting, after Mayor John Paterson sent an email to the OPP several weeks ago. He asked police to offer ideas about how to deal with a list of issues around town, including the “sexual comments and aggressive tendencies” of some migrant Jamaican and “island” workers toward women.
In the last couple of years, he said, there have been hundreds of complaints about migrant workers harassing women on the street, in grocery stores and other places.
“It’s quite often very sexual in content,” Paterson said Friday. “‘Be my wife, be my girlfriend for the night.’ Remarking about how clothes fit. It’s just inappropriate behaviour, and it is affecting the shopping habits, the living habits of most local female residents.”
Vernon Melhado, deputy chief liaison officer with the Jamaican liaison office in Leamington, said the whole thing was a surprise to him.
“We have not had any complaints whatsoever from anybody,” said Melhado. “I heard of this thing for the first time, I know nothing at all about it. I have no further comment on the matter, because if I don’t know about something I cannot comment on it.”
One worker, who wouldn’t give his name to a reporter, acknowledged the harassment does happen.
“It’s a shame some guys can’t control their behaviour,” he said. “It gives everybody a bad name.”
Paterson said it’s been going on for years, and this year has been one of the worst. The volume of complaints has been increasing, he said.
“It’s a negative effect to the economy, it’s a negative effect to lifestyle, it’s just wrong,” said Paterson. “It’s not all the Jamaican or island workers that do it. It’s just a small group of them. But they are very, very aggressive and they just need to be told it’s not appropriate.”
About a week after he sent an email to the OPP, Paterson said someone once again “verbally assaulted” one of his 23-year-old daughters.
“My wife and twin girls, they’ve dealt with it for the last five years,” said Paterson. “We’ve talked about it at home and just advised the girls how to handle it.”
Essex County OPP didn’t respond to the Star’s request for comment Friday, but Paterson said they told him there’s not much they can do.
“They said there’s nothing in Canadian law that allows them to make any charges against anybody doing this,” said Paterson.
He said the OPP suggested an education campaign involving handing out pamphlets and holding meetings.
“You say what’s appropriate, what’s not appropriate,” said Paterson.
Melhado said that kind of thing is addressed with workers, along with several other issues, before they come to Canada.
“They are assuming that it’s not being done,” he said. “We brief our workers every time before they get on the aircraft to come here on all aspects of Canadian life.”
If the issue is addressed with workers before they arrive in Canada, many women around Leamington feel the men aren’t paying attention.
Paula Cunha said they often approach her at the grocery store.
“If I bring my daughter, they are always right in my face trying to talk to her or just get our attention,” she said. “It’s not right. You shouldn’t have to be harassed by other people right in your face trying to get your attention. They try to get your attention by walking in front of you or getting in your way.”
She said the men even follow her around the store, continually harassing her.
“It’s very scary, uncomfortable,” said Cunha. “You’re there to get groceries, not to be picked up by strangers.”
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- Economic sectors
Agriculture and horticulture workers
- Target groups
Public awareness
- Geographical focuses
Ontario
- Languages
English
