APA demands investigation into conditions school girl was kept by authorities

Jul 02, 2023 News

Dharamlall rape case…

Kaieteur News – The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) on Saturday said that it is deeply concerned about the recent development in the investigation into the allegation of rape levelled against Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, by an Indigenous child.

The APA believes that the alleged instruction of “no further action” to the police, by the child “is a culmination of improper investigation and systemic emotional abuse by the authorities.”

In light of Friday’s revelations, the APA is demanding that an investigation into the conditions under which the 16-year-old child was being kept and the police’s conduct of the investigation.

“We are utterly dismayed at this conclusion and await the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions,” the APA said in its statement to the media while calling on the

Childcare and Protection Agency to answer the following:

What were the standard operating procedures employed in addressing the allegations?
How many Welfare Officers were assigned to the care of the child?
Why was the child denied legal representation by independent attorneys?
Did the Childcare and Protection Agency contract any lawyer to provide legal assistance to the child and her family?
Was the child isolated from her family and support system?
Was mental health care afforded to the child during her stay in the custody of the Agency and if yes, how often?
How did the Agency ensure that the child’s welfare and her rights were advocated for while being interrogated by the police?

To the Guyana Police Force, we ask the following:

What were the SOPs employed in dealing with allegations against Minister Dharamlall – a senior Cabinet member?
Was there any confrontation between the child and the accused?
How often and for what period were the child and her younger sibling interrogated by the police?

The Association said that the child’s treatment raises serious questions about the authorities’ interest in delivering justice.

“Over the course of the investigation, we have noted reports of the denial of counsel to the child and the Police treating her more like a suspect rather than a victim of a serious crime. The APA is also concerned about the role played by the Welfare Officers of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) in this whole investigation. It is clear, from the press reports, that the child’s interests were not adequately represented by those entrusted to protect her,” the APA said.

Additionally, the APA said that it is concerned for the child’s well-being and that of her family.

“Allegations of this nature require an enormous amount of strength to be made and we are hopeful that the child is receiving the right mental health and trauma care. This will inevitably shape her future and we view the “instruction” as alleged by the Guyana Police Force to be nothing, but a culmination of the enormous pressures placed on this child and her family.”

Further, the Association which represents the interests of Indigenous people called on Guyanese “to ensure that this matter is not swept under the carpet”.

“We call, especially, on our Indigenous brothers and sisters to demand that the child is protected, and this matter be independently investigated. The protection of our children should be of paramount importance and value to all,” the APA stated.

Moreover, the APA called on the State to uphold its constitutional obligations to protect its citizens – our women and children.

“The government need only refer to ratified documents such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly Article 34 that speaks to the role of the government in protecting children from sexual abuse. This must further be informed by General Recommendation No. 39 on the rights of indigenous women and girls from the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The recommendation provides guidance on the obligations of the State to appropriately respond to the sensitive contexts that make Indigenous women susceptible to violence and discrimination at all levels. The government has the tools needed to respond to this case in a manner that respects the interests of the child and upholds justice.”

The APA said it will continue to fight for the protection of basic human and other indigenous peoples’ rights and will engage with United Nations and other regional mechanisms to ensure that justice is served.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News