-Blanhum says matter under probe
The Guyana Police Force yesterday confirmed that a sexual assault complaint has been made against former Government minister Nigel Dharamlall at the Cove & John Police Station and that Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has noted that the allegations are “serious” and are under investigation.
“Relative to questions from the media regarding the sexual assault allegations against former minister Nigel Dharamlall, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has indicated that a formal report was made by the (complainant) to Police at the Cove and John Police Station. He noted that the allegations are serious and the matter is under active investigation,” the statement said yesterday.
Asked whether Dharamlall had been questioned it was stated that the investigation is active and “all parties will be contacted”.
The statement from the police was posted in the Joint Services/Press Team WhatsApp group days after Sarah Hakh during a virtual press conference made sexual assault allegations against the former minister and had stated that the police finally took her report after three attempts. Dharamlall has since denied the allegations by Hakh, who was once employed by the Ministry of Local Government while he was minister.
In his statement issued to the press following the public allegations, the former minister said that he had always maintained a cordial relationship with Hakh, but that her demeanour changed after he rebuffed her advances and rejected her attempts to engage in an intimate relationship.
He also accused Hakh of launching a campaign to tarnish his reputation through social media, leaks to the traditional media, and a “whisper campaign”, and questioned what had reignited her attempts to harm his reputation, particularly at this time.
“I have known Ms. Hakh personally for several years and have always maintained a most civil and cordial relationship with her, including socializing on many occasions. Her demeanour towards me changed fundamentally after I rebuffed her advances and spurned her attempts to engage in an intimate relationship. Thereafter, Ms. Hakh embarked on a campaign to malign and tarnish my reputation. This was manifested through several fake profiles on social media, surreptitious leaks of information to the traditional media and a whisper campaign to anyone willing to listen,” the former minister said.
Last Friday, Hakh, who was the Guyana and Caribbean 2012 CSEC top student, invited members of the media to listen as she read from a statement in which she alleged that she was raped twice by the minister, in two separate incidents. According to Hakh, the first incident occurred in September 2020, when she was invited to meet with Dharamlall at his residence to discuss a job opportunity. She broke down in tears as she related that during the meeting, the Minister pulled her into a room, became aggressive, and sexually assaulted her.
“I don’t know why we diverted… and at this point he grabs my body and tries to kiss me on the mouth, pulling himself onto me. I immediately turn away and persistently said that nothing can happen because I’m fully into women and this is not something I came here expecting to do and can’t offer anything. He doesn’t say anything but proceeds to… sexualize me”, she alleged.
“I excused myself to go into the self-contained bathroom trying to figure out how to get out of the situation since I was here for business and didn’t intend on leaving without ascertaining what we had agreed to discuss. After two minutes, I exit the bathroom and Dharamlall is on the bed laying on his back with his genitals out. I’m shocked, stunned, and immediately tell him to put his clothes on and not to expose himself to me,” she added.
She then recounted events leading to the alleged rape.
During her recount, Hakh noted that the only conversation akin to business talk was when Dharamlall related to her that her father had informed him that she shouldn’t get the job because he felt she was entitled and tended to misbehave.
“He abruptly asked me if I’m entitled because according to him, my father told him, I shouldn’t get the position because I act as though I’m entitled and that I misbehave. He laughs at these comments, and I find it very off-putting and out of context”.
Hakh alleged that the second incident occurred in 2021, while she made contact with the Ministry about non-payment of her contract during her stint working there. She said that in this scenario, she was invited to meet with Dharamlall again at his then residence.
Hakh then related the details of the alleged second instance of rape
Further, in her statement Hakh accused Dharamlall of cyberbullying and making homophobic remarks on social media, which she claimed were intended to intimidate and silence her.
Wall of silence
Yesterday’s statement by the police, posted by the Head of the Corporate Communications Unit Mark Ramotar came less than an hour after the Guyana Press Association (GPA) called on the force to end its wall of silence as several questions from journalists in the said group went unanswered for days.
“The Guyana Press Association is concerned about the lack of response from the Guyana Police Force to media queries related to an alleged sexual assault and cyberbullying made against a former Minister of Government and Member of Parliament.,” the GPA said in its statement yesterday.
The statement noted that an initial query on the issue posted in the WhatsApp group was acknowledged by Ramotar but three days later and following several other queries by media operatives there was no response.
“These questions have been asked in a medium that includes the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force including Commissioner of Police (Acting) Clifton Hicken and several government ministers including Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and Public Affairs Minister Kwame McCoy,” the GPA statement said.
It added that enquiries were also made directly to the Crime Chief, Assistant Commissioner Wendell Blanhum and Deputy Commissioner Calvin Brutus.
“The lack of response to these queries raises serious questions about the police willingness and ability to not only investigate itself but also politicians of any sitting party in government.,” the statement added.
It further said that the: “The lack of engagement on this and many other issues has led the GPA to conclude that public trust, being a critical component of law enforcement, has (been) dealt with a severe blow. It does appear that the Guyana Police Force is being heavily influenced politically rather than professionally”.
It is not the first time rape allegations have been reported to the police implicating the former minister as in the first quarter of last year, similar accusations arose from a 16-year-old female. After some time the complainant decided not to press charges. Dharamlall then resigned from his post and from Parliament. There had been concerns that the complaint of this 16-year-old had not been properly and expeditiously handled by the police and the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Two Sundays ago, the PPP announced that Dharamlall had been elected as part of the central committee of the party. He had placed sixth on the list of 35.
