Dear Editor,
Over the past weeks, we have been disappointed, hurt and angered by the mishandling of investigations into the allegations of rape brought against Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, by an Indigenous Guyanese girl.
As Minister, Dharamlall allegedly had the opportunity to groom, coerce and rape the Indigenous child. Since the allegations were made public, we have been appalled by reports of police intimidation of the child’s family; of an attempted bribe made to the family of the complainant; of the denial of legal counsel for the child; of the lack of impartial support for the child once she came into the custody of the state; of the child being taken to the crime scene and that Dharamlall was on the premises; and the back and forth of the case file between the Police and the DPP. We are fearful that these allegations will not be fully investigated, and that the Indigenous child will be left to bear the trauma of not only the alleged vicious assault on her body, but also that of the brutal handling of this case by Guyana’s criminal justice system. Like many Indigenous women, girls and boys within Guyana, her body was and is vulnerable to racial abuse and sexualising, which we cannot ignore, as it placed her at risk in the first place.
We endorse the statement issued by the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) that: calls on the state to uphold its constitutional obligation to protect women and children; refers to the government’s responsibility under Article 34 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child that speaks to the role of the government in protecting children from sexual abuse; and highlights General Recommendation no. 39 on the rights of Indigenous women and girls from the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
We invite all persons of conscience to join us in making the following demands:
1. The child must have access to support persons of her own choosing. This is her right.
2. The child’s own legal counsel should have immediate access to her if this hasn’t already been arranged.
3. Mental health support/care for the child and her family, from those adequately trained and who have their best interests at heart. A clear plan on what happens within the months and years ahead for her, and guaranteed support. She cannot be left to suffer for the rest of her life.
4. Access to funding for this child to receive legal counsel, care, accommodation etc. while she is in Georgetown.
5. Further call for the child’s right to privacy as this matter moves forward.
6. Apolitical coordination of support for the child, with Indigenous groups and communities leading that support. Indigenous villages and urban Indigenous communities have got to put aside political differences and stand up for this child.
7. Removal of Nigel Dharamlall from his ministerial position and from parliament. He should not be allowed to enter any Indigenous community unless the case is fully and impartially investigated.
8. Clear rejection of Dharamlall’s behaviour towards women from all MPS, etc. regardless of political affiliation.
9. Investigation of all other allegations of sexual assault and sexual offences by Dharamlall and other public officials regardless of political affiliation, while being sensitive to the need, protection and choices of survivors.
10. If this can be supported by the Guyanese Indigenous community, a boycott of ALL regional and national heritage activities like the Day of Sports and Indigenous Pageant, which potentially put Indigenous women and girls at risk for sexual abuse. Respective villages and districts should be free to carry out their activities, but with safeguarding in place for vulnerable children.
11. A full and impartial investigation into how the Dharamlall allegation was handled.
12. Accountability from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the Regional Demo-cratic Council Region 2, the Police and all other parties involved in this matter.
Signed:
Medino Abraham SJ, Moruca, Region 1
Mikel Andrews, Region 3
Graham Atkinson, Moruca, Region 1
Kaya Ali, Region 4
Romona Bennett, Region 2
Kissandar Campbell, Region 9
Immaculata Casimero. Aishalton
Village, Region 9
Shenella Charles, Region 2
Rita Chung, Region 2
Shanya Cordis, Region 1
Jelena da Silva, Karrau Creek, Region 7
Faye Fredericks, Shulinab Village,
Region 9
Laura George, Region 7
Lorna Gregory, Region 9
Romario Hastings, Region 7
Leroy Hendricks, Region 9
Clyde James, Region 2
Natasha La Rose, Region 1
Carmenelena Lord, Region 2
Vera Marco, Region 9
Vivian Marco, Region 9
lma Marshall, Kamarang Village,
Region 7
Dilon Mohamed, Region 4
Alma O’Connell, Maruranau Village, Region 9
Hilton Pablo, Kopinang Village, Region 8
Camille Robertson, Region 2
Shania Thompson, Region 4
Kristie Emily Rambharat, Region 7
Andre Ramaldo, Region 6
Surujani Williams Robinson, Kato Village Region 8
Monique Sarius, Region 6
Dawn Stoll, Moruca, Region 1
Candace Williams, Region 7
Tamika Wilson-Jerrick, Region 1
Amerindian Peoples Association
For Red Thread:
Norma Adrian
Shirley Ault
Susan Collymore
Karen De Souza
Danuta Radzik
Halima Khan
Joy Marcus
Jonel Perreira
Maeve Ramsay
Vanessa Ross
Wintress White