Members of the Guyana Police Force are currently undergoing training to improve their understanding of the Sexual Offences Act and their role in its implementation in order to ensure victims have access to the justice system and perpetrators are prosecuted.
“The whole issue is that we must commit ourselves to ensure that victims in Guyana have greater access to the justice system and more so, prosecution is enhanced,” Human Services Minister Jennifer Webster said at the opening yesterday of a two-day workshop at the Felix Austin Police College.
The workshop is jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Human Services and the Guyana Police Force.
In many cases, Webster opined, some of the techniques being used to address reports are still not “the best.” In addition,
she said that a better way is needed in assisting victims and helping them to report sexual offences committed against them and understand that their perpetrator will be brought to justice.
She said the workshop will aim at ensuring ranks understand their roles and providing education on the law, since a clear understanding must be established for prosecution.
In particular, she said training will be aimed at more effective implementation of the law and, in particular, speeding up the processing of reports on sexual offences committed on victims, especially children and women. “It is important that we recognise that in many cases, our victims are suffering,” she said, as she explained the need to expedite the interview process.
Webster further mentioned that the workshop will provide greater details on how interviews should be conducted, including the best way to retrieve evidence from children without having them become fearful and reluctant to provide information.
It will also look at alternative methods and solutions, such as creating a more child-friendly environment in which child victims of sexual offences would be comfortable and be able to tell their stories, either through drawings or a different way so that it is understandable. “And I think that this is one of the first areas that we will focus on and we will continue to train groups around Guyana, because it is important,” the minister declared.
Police Training Officer Senior Superintendent Paul Williams said that the workshop targeted the front line Criminal Investigation Department (CID) ranks, who will be doing the investigations, station sergeants and sub-division officers. He also noted that those afforded the training opportunity will be responsible disseminate to the others who were unable to attend the workshop.
