Minister Dharamlall goes on leave to facilitate probe into alleged rape of 16-yr-old Indigenous girl

Jun 19, 2023 News

---

Kaieteur News – Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall has stepped down from his ministerial position amidst rape allegations leveled against him by a 16-year-old Indigenous girl.

President Ali has confirmed that Minister Dharamlall requested administrative leave in order to allow the probe into the sexual allegations made against him. President Ali has approved the minister’s request, however, it was not made known when the leave commences.

In light of the news, Opposition Member of Parliament Geeta Chandan-Edmond in a statement said in light of the minister proceeding on administrative leave pending the investigation, “We trust that this will result in a full, fair, unbiased and impartial investigation, and that there will be compliance with the rule of law.”

She continued, “We continue to advocate strongly for the rights of women and children. I will also continue to be an unrelenting advocate for the protection of our indigenous sisters. We must all remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure that no one is above the law.”

Moreover, Opposition MP, Juretha Fernandes for her part said, “You see this cr*p, “…the Minister wrote him requesting to be allowed to proceed on administrative leave, and the request has been granted.” You were supposed to SEND HIM on administrative leave. Not put him in a position to be presented to the public as though he is in total control of the situation. “

She continued, “There is nothing comforting about this, absolutely nothing! What next? Are you gonna ask him if he accepts the finding of the investigation? Is he gonna be selecting the people conducting the investigation? #justiceforourindigenousgirls.”

In an invited comment, President Ali had told another media house, that he had not received a formal or official complaint but noted that he saw social media posts on the allegations.

That particular media house had reported that the President emphasised that once a report is made “it will be thoroughly investigated by the relevant authorities.” Notably, it was highlighted that President Ali also reiterated that he has “no tolerance for such behaviour and anyone found guilty of such allegations will be held accountable.”

“As a government, we are committed to having any facts fully investigated as we hold dearly our girls and women in every community. And we will continue to do everything to ensure their safety and well-being,” President Ali told the News Room.

Similarly, 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 priorities 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.

Amidst the rape allegations, two female ministers issued statements underscoring the seriousness of the allegations while indicating that a thorough investigation will be conducted.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, in a statement on Saturday said that allegations of rape, sexual assault and gender-based violence are not to be made lightly and must always be taken seriously.

“I begin by believing complainants, always, every time. Because the statistics are clear. Despite the myths, victims of rape and sexual assault do not lie about their experiences any more than victims of any other crime,” Minister Manickchand said noting that the teen has accepted support from the Ministry of Education and will attend a meeting soon.

Minister Manickchand in her statement emphasised that when the complainant is a child, the complaint must take on even more urgent dimensions.

She assured that she has always treated complaints of rape and sexual assault with the urgency it deserves. The minister reminded that she was the one who piloted the Sexual Offences Act and when it was passed into law in 2010, it was made clear that “we want better treatment of complainants and better conviction rates. That hasn’t changed.”

For her part, Minister of Human Services and Social Protection, Dr. Vindhya Persaud said that the Child Care and Protection Agency is carrying out a full investigation into the allegation made against the male minister while reminding that no one is above the law.

“The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has taken note of the serious allegations made against a Minister by a 16-year-old girl. Our women and girls must be safe and no one is above the law.”

This publication had reported that in a letter to President Irfaan Ali, the teen girl shared gruesome details about how she was allegedly groomed and later raped by the minister. In her letter, she pleaded with President Ali, the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and relevant authorities to look into the matter.

According to the letter seen by this publication, 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. She disclosed in the letter that after continuously harassing her to meet up with him, she eventually agreed to meet the minister. The teen said this is when the minister raped her, sodomized her before handing her a sum of money.  Notably, Kaieteur News was reliably informed that this is not the first time such an allegation was made against the minister in question.

Since the allegations surfaced, calls mounted for President Irfaan Ali to send the minister on administrative leave. The president spoke to multiple media houses, confirming that he was aware of the allegations made against Minister Dharamlall but clarified that he did not receive the letter in question. However, he assured that no one will be held unaccountable.

 

---

• Juretha Fernandes, Minister Manickchand, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlal, Moreover, Nigel Dharamlall, Opposition MP, President emphasised

---