Residents confirm rape accused Minister visited victim, parents last week

Jun 18, 2023 News

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Kaieteur News – The Government minister accused of raping a 16-year-old girl was reportedly seen in the victim’s community shortly after the allegations were publicized on social media and subsequently published by the media.

Kaieteur News understands that the minister was spotted in the vicinity of a popular shop in the community. He reportedly arrived in a black vehicle and was accompanied by other persons. A white vehicle also arrived alongside the Minister’s.

“He [the Minister] went in here yes… with a black vehicle that belongs to the region,” one resident recounted.

Residents told this publication that the black vehicle frequented the community as it was used regularly by regional officials. This publication understands that before arriving in the community, the said vehicles were seen in nearby community where it is alleged that the victim’s parents were met and picked up.

“The Minister went over there and bring the parents over here and he had police and the regional people with him. The police went in regular clothes [plain clothes] but were wearing their ‘police shoes’,” another resident told this publication.

Another resident corroborated the statement and told Kaieteur News, “He [the Minister] come down with the region vehicle, a black fielder wagon and they went by [named place] where they [the minister and the victim’s parents] meet up.”

The resident continued: “He came between 4pm and 6pm and there were four persons in the white car and three persons in the black car.”

According to sources close to the victim, the government official visited the victim’s parents with the intent of settling the matter. However, they traveled to the community from another village in the same region.

“He [the Minister] talked with the parents. They [the parents] don’t live in this community but they live nearby but they have family here,” a resident disclosed.

On Saturday, Kaieteur News reported that a 16-year-old Indigenous girl alleged that a government minister raped and sodomised her. The teen in a detailed letter to President Irfaan Ali said, “Dear President Ali, Cabinet Members, private sector, members of the diplomatic community, citizens of Guyana, I would like to let you know what Minister [name provided] has done to me. It’s because I’m scared for my life that I am doing this. I see no other way. [Name provided] has preyed upon me, groomed me and raped me,” the letter stated.

According to the letter, the girl first met the minister at an event last year, when she was 15-years-old. She said she was raped three months after meeting the minister and at that time, she was 16-years-old.

“What kind of a human is [name provided]? Be a man and explain to me why you violated my body. Why did you prey after me, groomed me and then took advantage of me? Do you have any idea what you have done to my life? You’re a man, right? Tell me I want to know since you like to destroy young girls’ lives. Is this what your job requires of you? You are taking advantage of your office and no one knows this. You go to churches and hold the Bible and pray and take pictures to fool the world and yet is a demon. You visit communities and hold girls and take pictures and then lust after them. You are a scum of the earth. You belong in jail for the rest of your miserable life,” the girl said.

The teen alleged in the letter that the minister is using his office as a way to get access to females and abuse them sexually.

In another section of the letter, the teen wrote to Education Minister “Ms. Priya Manickchand, you are supposed to protect us schoolchildren from sexual predators like this. You have failed me. You keep bringing [minister name] to schools and allowing him access to us school girls.”

The letter which was seen by this publication, the teen had called on the President, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and the relevant authorities to look into the matter.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of an event on Friday evening, President Ali told Kaieteur News that his government will not tolerate such acts and that he has already informed the police that any such report must be thoroughly and comprehensively investigated.

Asked whether the matter was discussed with the government minister, President Ali responded, “Of course I reached out to the Minister and he denied any wrongdoing and as I said the allegations are allegations; we have to deal with statement of facts and once any facts is being presented, the authorities have to do their investigation.”

The Head-of-State assured that “no one will be held unaccountable.” “So as I said one of the greatest priority in this government is our girls and women. We will not tolerate anything that will hinder that. So any fact and report, I… have already told the police any report must be thoroughly and comprehensively investigated,” President Ali assured.

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• allegation, Government Minister, President Irfaan Ali, rape and sodomize, teen girl

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