Guyanese silence contributed to continued sexual exploitation

Jun 29, 2023 Letters

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Dear Editor,

The Dharamlall alleged brutal sexual assault on a young Amerindian girl, as described in a letter written by the victim has now been made public, the correct procedure has been followed by the police with the MP’s arrest, and the appropriate bookwork is done.

If the MP did commit the crime, as can be proven, then this MP should be punished severely, and the victim should be hailed as a hero and get the necessary help to overcome her traumatic experience. The response for those who want justice for the victim is well aligned with a society having the decency and morality to condemn this MP’s act. As appalled as I am by this MP’s alleged act, I am not surprised, since sexual assaults and abuse have been going on for too long in Guyana. Powerful men of Guyanese society took advantage of vulnerable females and sometimes males that come into contact with them, and even the poor who had power over the vulnerable took advantage to sexually abuse those around them.

How many of these predators commit evils and live untouchable in society while reoffending? When sexual misconduct against vulnerable women was done by MPs, they got no punishment since in the Burnham days, as no jail time or dismissal was enacted. This kind of behavior from those who have power and use it for sexual misconduct is a worldwide problem, but sticking to Guyana, it does not surprise me since it happens all over Guyanese society. When it comes to MPs and race the response is the same as for everything else in Guyana, the accused side stays silent while the bullhorn sound from the other side, right and wrong don’t matter. I wish the likes of Annette Ferguson and the Elder would give us their opinion on the rape allegation against former PNC MP Robert Corbin, who actually became a presidential candidate, as the victim was Indo-Guyanese the PNC stayed silent on that case.

Many Guyanese fully well know of sexual assaults perpetrated by MPs, Members of the GDF, GNS, GPF, Heads of State Entities, Regional Administrators, Guysuco, DDL, Public and Private Companies, Teachers, Sports Officials, Professionals, Religious Leaders, Taxi and Minibus Drivers, the Rich and everyone else who targeted the vulnerable. The vulnerable had no recourse for justice since they didn’t have the financial means nor influence nor proper representation, so they stayed silent.  Since many of the victims depended on an income or some favor to survive from their abusers, and knowing Guyanese will look down upon them, this silence from victims enabled the sexual predators to continue abusing victims unabated.  Male victims usually stayed silent, knowing Guyanese would mock them rather than giving them sympathy and support.

If Guyana’s lawyers are good for nothing when it comes to fighting for Guyana’s wealth, they are very good at shredding rape victims to pieces in cross-examinations during court trials.When we have a medical system that can’t provide painkillers to patients, obviously there are no rape kits in the fastest-growing economy to help rape victims in courts, if there is no medical evidence of rape, sexually abused victims will have no chance for justice in courts.If the accused MP is guilty, Guyanese can’t be blamed for his thoughts and acts.  Guyanese, however, must be blamed for creating the environment for these sexual predators since Guyanese stayed silent and did nothing meaningful about sexual exploitation and abuse as it was occurring.

Amerindian and other MPs stayed silent, even the devout religious who are outraged and offended by parades and carnivals stayed silent, there was also the absence of Red Thread Org., which is supposed to be women fighting for women. Guyanese stayed silent as the government gave unregulated mining and logging companies the right to drive Amerindians off their lands forcing them out of their communities with nothing to survive on, making particularly the females vulnerable to abuse. Guyanese stayed silent as sexual exploitation and abuse of predominantly Amerindian and other females was happening openly in the interior by locals, foreigners, and members of the military who were supposed to protect them, as well as, in the village rum shops, the brothels, the strip clubs and even in foreign embassies.

Guyanese silence, support, and stained fingers have given MPs and others absolute power over the vulnerable, with no accountability for lawlessness which will eventually breed evilness that has left Guyana in financial, societal, moral, and spiritual decay. There were also the bold, brazen, barefaced, and bizarre with it comes to sexual abuse and exploitation in Guyana like, a girl was thrown from a moving vehicle in broad daylight in the city, everyone knew who the vehicle belonged to, but no charges were laid as this was the protected class.  A man was taking a donkey in a hotel to make pornography with a woman, everyone laughed without thinking about the attempted sexual exploitation of a female.  A female in underwear was climbing the fence to escape sexual exploitation from a strip club and a national soccer team coach was alleged to be sexually abusing the players with no consequences.

I hope this alleged rape victim’s cry can be a wake-up call for Guyanese like the “Me Too” movement in the US and other countries, where even those who sexually abused the vulnerable in the past can be brought to justice. Guyana’s leaders’ top priority is not to stop sexual abuse but to facilitate the quick exploitation of Guyana’s wealth by foreigners. Guyanese you can’t undo the past, but if you want to protect the vulnerable in the future you have a chance, since you know many of these vulnerable are in that position because of their need for an income or favor to survive.  Guyanese soon will have a chance to make the vulnerable get their rightful share of Guyana’s wealth and avoid them being in vulnerable positions, thus avoiding sexual exploitation and abuse, time to stop taking and take action.

Glenn Lall will call a national shutdown of Guyana, this protest is not for Glenn Lall nor it is anti-PPP or anti-PNC, as all Guyanese are allowed to take part, this is another chance Guyanese, to fight for yourself and your families, to end the exploitation and abuse of the poor and vulnerable and to save Guyana from financial, societal, moral and spiritual decay. Guyanese have protested nationally before during the British Rule, During the Desmond Hoyt Govt., and now it must be done again as the stakes can’t get higher than this, Guyanese if you truly want to fight for sexually abused victims, when the protest is called show you care and be there.

Truly yours,

R. David

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• Dharamlall, exploitation, Guyanese, R. David., sexual

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