Latest update February 18th, 2026 12:35 AM
‘Toshaos cannot ‘settle sex crimes’ – DPP
…tells Rupununi women to report murders, sexual offences to police
(Kaieteur News) – More than 100 women from South Rupununi communities are now better equipped to respond to serious crimes after a targeted outreach by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) last week, the chambers said in a press release.
A section of the gathering at one of the meetings.
According to the DPP during a series of public outreach meetings held from Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th February, 2026, in the South Rupununi villages the mostly female attendees were informed of the importance of reporting serious criminal matters of murders and sexual offences to the police. According to the DPP based on complaints received residents often said they were not aware of how to go about dealing with criminal matters, especially those in relation to gender- based and sexual violence.
Residents display some of the artwork with messages of ending sexual violence.
When asked if they would make reports to the police, some participants informed that “we were not aware that the Toshaos cannot deal with sexual offences and domestic violence.”
The DPP chambers said too that there have been allegations of village leaders trying to settle matters of sexual offences. “The attendees were appreciative that the DPP’s Chambers had travelled to their communities to meet with them,” the release stated. “We need more of these public awareness and public education, because we have learnt so much from you on what to do when something happens,” the DPP chambers quoted someone without attributing a name.
Residents display some of the artwork with messages of ending sexual violence.
Co-Founder of the South Rupununi Wapichan Wiizi Women’s Movement Immaculata Casimero stated that the outreach meetings brought awareness, clarity and support to the residents of the far-flung communities. The outreach was held in collaboration with the Justice Education Society (JES) which engaged the participants in arts and culture sessions during which they were able to highlight through drawings their thoughts on ending gender and sexual violence committed against men, women and children.
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