Red Thread Coordinator Karen de Souza is not surprised that alleged child molester Winston Harding enjoys the support of the residents of his constituency. According to her this is an unfortunate symptom of our national disorder.
“I’m not surprised, partly because the first response to child sexual abuse is shame. This is something Red Thread and other organizations have been working on to have understood. We must understand that sexual assault is not shameful to the child or their family it is the abusers’ shame. The first instinct is to close ranks around your own to protect the abuser. I have seen many instances where adults think of their own standing at the expense of the child and this notion is wrong,” she explained.
She noted that in this case it is party supporters closing ranks to protect the abuser since they believe that to criticize the party or senior persons in the party is to weaken the party.
“It is tragic because the party will do nothing to educate their supporters otherwise,” she said.
Winston Harding who now sits as a councillor on the Mayor and City Council has been charged on several occasions with sexually assaulting different children.
An article appearing in the August 10, 2001 edition of Stabroek News, headlined, ‘Alleged child molester refused bail,’ identified the then 31-year-old Winston Harding of 81 East Ruimveldt, as having appeared before then acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen on the charge of indecent assault.
The allegation against Harding then was that he committed the assault at the virtual complainant’s home.
It was also reported that during his arraignment, a relative of the man told the court that he had been implicated in similar cases before—a claim which was validated by the court prosecutor.
Stabroek News has also learnt that Harding is currently the subject of an investigation by the Child Care and Protection Agency.
Stabroek News became aware of the accusations against Harding when his election posters were rebranded “child molester” in his constituency of East and West Ruimveldt.
When this newspaper approached Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence who was in charge of the coalition’s Georgetown Campaign for a comment on the matter she said that the issue was “a family issue that has been going on and on and on and on.” She also contended that Harding had never been charged.
Once Stabroek News reported that he had indeed been charged the coalition distanced itself from the candidate.
“In light of the alleged behaviour of Mr Winston Harding and the pattern of accusations over the years, his candidature cannot be supported at this time,” an APNU press statement said.
It was, however, too late to withdraw Harding from the contest and he went on to win his seat in a landslide victory.
Having won his seat, Harding cannot legally be removed from the council unless he is convicted of a crime or chooses to resign. President David Granger, when questioned about the matter, had told reporters that Harding’s possible recall will have to be discussed at the party level and Harding himself had told this newspaper that he would abide by whatever decision is made by the coalition.
However, on Friday when he was sworn in as councillor, Harding told Stabroek News that he had no intention of resigning and had not been asked to do so by the party he represents.
Harding was enthusiastically supported by residents of his constituency on Friday, who told Stabroek News they were sure the accusations against him have no merit.
As he descended City Hall’s stairs, a large crowd of his supporters loudly proclaimed their support. “Yes Harding, yes boy. They can’t stop you boy,” one woman exclaimed, while another proclaimed, “Don’t worry, we gonna pull out the thread. When we done with the Red Thread, it gon turn brown. They can’t move you. You deh fo represent we is we put you deh.”
For de Souza these protestations are not worrying.
“I’m not worried about these women since I’m sure that many of them would do a complete 360 if it were their child who was assaulted. I’m also sure they would do a complete 360 if the party were to come and condemn this individual. The positions they hold are not positions that are set in stone,” she said.
Red thread will host the fourth in a series of protest on this matter tomorrow at noon in front of the Ministry of the Presidency.
