Breaking Down the Sexual Offences Act
This week I will be breaking down sections 43 of the Sexual Offences Act, Cap 8:01, Laws of Guyana (“the SOA”).
Section 43 of the SOA is titled “Paper Committals” in the marginal note (the title found to the left of the section).
Section 43 – Paper Committals
Section 43 of the SOA states that where any person is charged with any indictable offence under the Act, there must be a paper committal, instead of an oral preliminary inquiry (PI). The PI must be held in keeping with the Act’s First Schedule, which sets out the process for the paper committal.
This provision effectively abolished oral PIs in sexual offences cases in Guyana, including any cross-examinations of complainants.