failing to hand down tough enough sentences on men who beat up women.

Works Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto also called for the abolishment of the word "domestic'' in referring to violence against women in the home.

And she revealed some harsh measures Government was seriously considering to get delinquent dads to pay up. Among them were revoking their driver's licences, confiscating their cars or other assets and barring them from leaving the Island until arrears were paid.

Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto was speaking on women's issues at a Hamilton Lions Club meeting.

Noting Government had recently passed laws calling for harsher maximum penalties against sex offenders, Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said: "We have been disappointed, I in particular, that in some instances the courts are failing in my view to dish out sterner sentences because it is a `domestic matter'.

"Let me tell you, if two guys argued in the back of a bar one night and one stabbed the other, the stabber would go to Supreme Court and be looking at doing three years time. But if it was his wife he stabbed, he'd go down to Magistrates' Court and merely get a slap on the wrist -- that is what's happening.'' She added: "Domestic violence is a repugnant phrase and action and we must get rid of it.

"It's not domestic violence. It's assault, battery and grievous bodily harm -- so why does the community keep talking about it as domestic violence. We should not try and minimise one human being terrorising another.'' The Press, lawyers and judges were guilty of using the phrase "domestic violence'', she said.

Government was committed, she said, to making life better for Bermuda's children and women. Efforts had been made to help single parents, who head one third of all households in Bermuda, she noted, adding she grew up in a single parent family.

"What has happened to the missing fathers?,'' she asked. "We have identified self esteem as a major factor in a child's future success. But what kind of self esteem is a child supposed to have if their father does not visit or even contribute to their financial well being? "We must make it abundantly clear through tough penalties that violence against women will not be condoned in Bermuda ... I am imploring on all of you to be our sister's keeper and be real men.''