In cases of sexual assault, women who are affected are often silent. Whether it is fear, shame, or self-reproach, there are several reasons why women choose silence. Society is often harsh to women who were sexually assaulted or raped; often questioning women’s culpability when they are blameless.
But if adult women are shamed or frightened into silence, what about girls? We know child sexual abuse is rife in Guyana. There are many homes where incest is a norm as relatives continue to groom and harm the children in their lives. And then there is the grooming, molestation and rape circles that are outside home and family. It is disturbing that the people who engage in sexually abusing children often face no consequences. We are not a barbaric society that hangs or stones people, but sexual crimes against children are deserving of the harshest punishment.
Many adults we see who are carrying their pain and are dead in the eyes and cold to the touch, were sexually violated as children. Some get the therapy they need to heal from the hurt of the frightened children who were crouched in dark corners, crying, and confused after they were molested and/or raped. When we look around Guyana and see how cruel and insensitive, we can be, the root of much of it leads back to the violation of children.
So, with all the injustice we witness when it comes to the rape of people in Guyana, it was great to see people standing for the teenager who accused Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall of rape. Many of us read the letter that was allegedly penned by the teenager detailing how she met the minister, the process of grooming and then the rape. It angered many of us. Some even shed tears. Some were certain of the minister’s guilt since these were not the first whispers about him.
People protested in rain and sun in support of the teenager. While many of those protesting were supporters of the opposition, it was not only them. Groups like Red Thread also supported the teenager by protest. The Amerindian Peoples Association also supported her. Other groups and individuals who wanted to stand for truth and justice also stood for the teenager. There were those who were afraid to sound their voices in support or show their faces at the protests for we live in a country where people are afraid of being victimized for standing for justice. Freedom of speech is unfortunately threatened. For example, we have recently seen a report that cybercrime charges are being initiated by the Guyana Police Force for overseas based activist, popular social media influencer Melissa Atwell also known as Melly Mel. She was one of the people involved in bringing the Dharamlall case to light. Stories are often shared on her Facebook page from people who want to highlight issues of being mistreated or wronged. Some people also seek advice. For their protection and often by request their names are not released to the public.
Many of us are left scratching our heads. Is cybercrime highlighting issues that are happening in Guyana? Is it highlighting the complaints about establishments? Are people allowed to speak about their negative experiences in this country?
Nevertheless, people stood for the teenager. They called for the resignation and prosecution of the minister. A report was filed with the police. The minister was said to have been arrested and then released on $1m bail. The file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecution Shalimar Ali-Hack. The file was returned to the police for further investigations. Eventually, it was reported that the sixteen-year-old asked for No Further Action and the DPP said based on that there was no legal provision for the matter to proceed. Shortly after the DPP’s decision it was reported that Minister Nigel Dharamlall was to resign.
Eventually just over a week ago a video was released of the teenager. In this video the teenager claimed that she was in no way involved with the accusations. Like all the accusations were sprung out of fairy-tale land. The report, the file, like a figment of the imagination. That the letter many of us read she claimed was not written by her. That the entire alleged rape accusation was a ploy of the opposition. It was seen as a slap in the faces of all the people who stood for her.
Some chose to bash the teenager while some decided to show grace. In this time in Guyana where people are muzzled because of fear, and we see questionable decisions that rob the people of justice, it is difficult to imagine that a teenager could go up against the system and see the battle through. The minister resigned after the DPP did not recommend charges. Some question, why an innocent person would resign instead of fighting to prove their innocence.
While the teenager on this video appeared to be reading from a script to recant her story, there are audio recordings some which were released on social media that contradict much of what she said. There are also allegations that there were financial transactions for the teenager to recant her story.
In Guyana anything is possible. Too often the intelligence of the Guyanese people is insulted. But some of us are imbecilic. Some of our people cannot critically think. Some listen to their leaders and whatever string the leader is pulling that is the one they dance to. Some of these people were quicker to celebrate what they saw as the minister’s vindication based on the video, than stand by the young lady when the reports were initially made.
Paedophiles and rapists will continue to often get away with their crimes in Guyana because there are too many depraved people who would faster seek to support those who hurt people, than stand with the people they hurt. To think also that some people supported the minister only because they support the same political party is also insanity. It is another example of how politicians are emboldened to do whatever they please without accountability.
About two weeks ago there was a story in the news where child rapist Mark Samuels was sentenced to life for raping a thirteen-year-old girl. Yes, sometimes we do see justice in Guyana, and we celebrate it. However, based on your class and status you might appear to be exempt from trial or imprisonment in Guyana. It is hard to imagine that in this season of Guyana even if a Minister of Government is guilty of raping a teenager that he would ever be tried and found guilty. That is how broken we are.
