We will now enjoy better protection against sex predators

Apr 25, 2010 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

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By Latchmin Budhan – Punalall, M.P

This week’s column is an address by AFC Member of Parliament, Latchmin Budhan – Punalall, to the National Assembly on Thursday, April 22, 2010, on the Sexual Offence Bill # 30 – 2009
Introduction:
Mr. Speaker the “Sexual Offence Bill” is very important and necessary for our people at this time. Whilst it is true that in the very best of societies sex crimes are committed we need to do our best in Guyana to eradicate sex crimes especially those of a violent nature. Very frequently we hear or read the heart breaking reports of victims who were attacked by sex predators.
After these attacks are committed a devastated or murdered victim is left behind.
Alfred Kinsey, a pioneer sex researcher wrote in Psychology Today “Sex is the most profound and intimate way to express your love for someone. But within the universe of intimacy and pleasure that sex affords there is a lot of room for error”. Mr. Speaker this “error” often takes the shape of attacks staged by sex predators against innocent and unsuspecting victims.
CLAUSE 36
Mr. Speaker clause 36 (c) states that every person who solicits, incites, aids, abets or counsels or attempts to solicit, incite, aid, abet or counsel any other person to commit any offence, whether summary or indictable, against this act may be charged with, tried, convicted, and punished in all respect as if that person were a principal offender who solicit sex from minors to be prosecuted.
This means that our citizens will enjoy better protection against sex predators especially those targeting the minors in our society.
Sex predators are using the telephone as one of their instruments to make contact with unsuspecting and innocent children.
Many cases are reported of alleged rape, sexual assault and battery committed by many adults in our society against our children.
We need to do much more to bring these offenders to justice. Many times these allegations are made by our children under the age of consent which is below 16 years.
These are some of the headlines in one of our daily newspapers. Stabroek News. Note the age of these victims.
1. Man, 38, remanded on carnal knowledge charge of a 15-year-old girl.
2. Businessman accused of sexually abusing girl 13yrs.
3. Man refused bail on charge of carnal knowledge of girl 13yr.
4. Two charged with carnal knowledge of under-15 girls.

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, in reporting on Guyana in the area of prevalence and forms of child abuse (9 Oct 2008) quoted statistics from Help & Shelter as follows “Data compiled during 2008 indicate that between January and June, Help and Shelter assisted 32 clients who were under eighteen years of age including 18 cases involving some form of child abuse and 9 cases involving child rape… An estimated 8 to 10 percent of girls and 25 percent of boys in Guyana have been sexually abused.” Note the percentage of boys being sexually abused, which we are ignoring.
An article appearing in Stabroek News dated (3 Aug. 2008) states that from 1 January 2007 to 3 August 2008, there were 53 cases of indecent assault and unlawful carnal knowledge involving minors brought before the court, including two cases where the accused were active police officers at the time of the offence.
Mr. Speaker, our children of today will be the human resource of tomorrow.
Therefore when our children are damaged by becoming victims of sex offenders today it is not only a problem that affects our society just for today. It has a telling effect on the future of our country as well.
It is a known fact that violent sex offenders may have a progressive course that goes from molesting to rape to torture and even to murder. It will therefore be wise for the administration to keep a register of the identity and location of known sex predators.
This registry should be updated regularly in order to ensure that it is complete and accurate. This record can aid law enforcement in this vital area.
Almighty God has given mankind a perfect package of moral laws in the ten commandments of the Holy Bible. However, not every man has respect for these divine laws.
Therefore human legislators must enact laws of morality to protect man against acts of immorality.
Fornication and adultery (which covers all sexual sins) are acts forbidden by Almighty God yet many live in open sexual carnality not considering the social problems, sexually transmitted diseases and even death, which result from such loose living.
We are thankful Mr. Speaker that the AFC’s submissions at the Special Select Committee were taken into consideration and that this bill is now before this assembly in a more refined way.
The Alliance For Change fully supports this report made by the Special Select Committee to be adopted in the Sexual Offence Bill 2009 and passed.
The passage of this bill will draw the line in making clear to all politicians, judges, prosecutors and organizations that we will do everything in our power to protect our people, especially our women and children, from sexual predators.
Mr. Speaker I am grateful to all the members of this Special Select Committee who made special efforts to attend and participate in making wise submissions, which led to fruitful discussions and conclusions.
The AFC thanks the GAWL representatives and the Parliamentary Team who worked together earnestly to achieve the wrapping up of this Bill. I will like to thank also the Hon.
Minister Priya Manickchand who did an excellent job as Chairperson on this committee.
May the people of this dear land recognize that Almighty God has prescribed sound moral laws, which govern the nature of the human race.
Unfortunately because of man’s disobedience to divine laws it has become necessary for us to enact laws to curb sexual sins.
In the Holy Bible in the Book of Proverbs 29:18 we read “where there is no vision the people perish, but he that keepeth the law happy is he”.
When people are deficient in the mental picture of morality much trouble follows.
The intent in the passage of laws is to restrain people from committing acts of lawlessness or face the consequences of their actions.
The person who obeys laws is happy. Society is made better. Blessedness prevails in any society where law abiding citizens abound.
Peace Pilgrim; a woman who walked for peace said “Overcome evil with good and falsehood with truth and hatred with Love” This I leave with sex predators and those guilty of sexual offences.
If there are no more offenders we will have no more victims.

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