Yesterday’s disclosure by the police that the complainant who pressed a rape allegation against the Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall no longer wishes to proceed has naturally drawn sharp reactions and concerns.
The primary concern of the public should be with the welfare of this child. Extraordinary measures should be taken to protect her from some of the unthinking actions that have attended this matter including a senior education official being deputed to find her and offer her succour. Further, Guyana’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child have to be upheld as it relates to the complainant.
It seems most unlikely that a girl of her age would take the step of issuing the complaint in the first place, agree to go under the care of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), maintain her statement during a forensic interview and have the case submitted to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for the purpose of investigating Minister Dharamlall only to decide against pursuing it several days later.