Consultation records blow hole in minister’s claims’

Jun 12, 2026 News

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…reports show groups in Linden, Georgetown wanted open registry, not protection for sexual predators

(Kaieteur News) – Consultation records from civil society groups in Linden and Georgetown have contradicted Minister of Human Services and Social Security’s Dr. Vindhya Persaud stance on the proposed Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026.

Dr. Persaud has said that “on the question of the model of the registry to be used in the legislative framework, it is the widespread consultation that overwhelmingly advocated for the establishment of a closed model registry.”

However, her statement prompted critics, who included members of the opposition and civil society, to demand the immediate public release of all consultation reports, alleging that the government is attempting to shield sex offenders.

The controversy centers on a provision in the Bill, introduced by the Human Services Minister, which seeks to maintain a closed, confidential register for sexual offenders. While the Ministry has repeatedly cited extensive public consultations to defend the draft, attendees and documents paint a vastly different picture, revealing unanimous opposition to offender anonymity and a deep dissatisfaction with the government’s legislative process.

Records titled, “Comments from CSNRG (Civil Society National Reference Group) on the Amendments of the SOA 2024” detail extensive pushback from prominent human rights and protection agencies. Participating organisations included the CSNRG, Blossom Inc., Help & Shelter, and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD/GEF).

The documents outline 17 distinct criticisms and recommendations, highlighting a collective demand for transparency and structural overhaul. Chief among their objections was a total rejection of offender anonymity.

“We do not agree with this provision that a person accused of committing a sexual offence should maintain anonymity,” the CSNRG report states under reviews of Section 62A. “If this position is taken within this Act, then this anonymity should be conferred on any accused person who is charged for any offence under any of the Laws of Guyana.”

Instead, the groups recommended that Guyana align with regional neighbours like Trinidad and Tobago by making the Sex Offender Registry fully public, complete with names, recent photographs, and addresses. Some of the recommendations listed are:

• The registry must be public to serve its safety purpose, and juveniles should be strictly excluded from it.
• Provisions must be included to charge perpetrators in absentia when video-recorded statements of children are available, allowing the State to proceed with cases even if traumatized victims or complainants do not wish to continue.
• An administrative system must be implemented under the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to securely log and protect audio/video interviews of children, accompanied by strict penalties for any breaches of confidentiality by officials.
• The groups demanded the removal of clauses utilizing the phrase “if believed” regarding victim credibility, arguing it leaves too much open to subjective interpretation. They further requested the removal of clauses mandating “reasonable timeframes” for reporting, noting that survivors—particularly children, often require time to process trauma and overcome intimidation before disclosing abuse.
• The report insists there should be absolutely no waiver of the duty to report child sexual abuse, suggesting that final determinations remain strictly vested in the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA).
• Clearer guidelines must dictate how names are added or removed (Section 91C). Additionally, the group questioned why offenders are trusted to report their own address changes (Section 91M) without automatic penalties, while simultaneously calling for penalties against individuals who make verified false accusations.

“She Labeled Me Presumptuous” – Rights Commissioner Speaks Out 

The written reports are backed by oral testimony from Nicole Cole, a Commissioner at the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC). Cole confirmed that she attended a consultation representing the Rastafari community, alongside representatives from the Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC), the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), the Indigenous Peoples’ Commission (IPC), and broader civil society.

According to Cole, the event was less of a collaborative consultation and more of a unilateral presentation.

“Yes, [the Minister] should present the credible evidence, because as far as I am aware, there was ONE meeting with Gail’s Ministry [Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs] last year when Kim Kyte presented on the proposed amendments,” Cole stated. “Myself and Blossom Inc. OPPOSED any attempts to NOT name perpetrators who are ‘alleged’ to have committed rape, and to NOT allow the public access to the Sex Offender Registry!”

Cole described a confrontation with government officials during the session. “I was very vocal to the point, and [Governance Minister] Gail [Teixeira] labeled me ‘presumptuous’!” Cole said. “When I quoted the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) and stated that we should always do what is in the best interests of children, because parents have a right to know if a child rapist is in their community, Hon. Gail agreed, but there were no further meetings after that one. Follow-up meetings were supposed to occur, but if they did, I was not there.”

Attendees from both locations in Linden and Georgetown uniformly stated that “no one said that the Register should be closed at any of these events.”

Opposition Mobilises, Demands Release of Consultation Minutes 

The disconnect between public feedback and the text of the Bill has prompted swift condemnation from opposition factions, who are now demanding total transparency.

Amanza Walton, Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement, issued a brief but firm statement to the Kaieteur News on Thursday, “The consultation report ought to be made public.”

Dr. David Hinds, Co-Leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and APNU Shadow Minister of Human and Social Services, expressed deep suspicions regarding the integrity of the Ministry’s process.

“Yes, I think the minister should say which groups were consulted in relation to the sex offenders register,” Dr. Hinds said. “This is a matter that should transcend party politics… The minister leads a ministry that has the word ‘human’ in its title. She therefore has a responsibility to ensure that matters such as the one at hand be free from the shackles of domination,” he told Kaieteur News.

Dr. Hinds noted that the government’s eleventh-hour decision to send the Sexual Offences Register Bill to a Parliamentary Select Committee amounts to a quiet confession.

“This is a tacit acceptance that there was not enough consultation in the first place,” Dr. Hinds asserted. “But going the route of the Select Committee is the next best option in pursuit of a wider consultative approach. WPA salutes those who raised their voices in protest over some provisions in the proposed bill. We hope this is not a rare exception by the government but the beginning of a new respect for participatory democracy.”

Former Mayor Blasts Minister’s “Dharmic Contradiction” 

Adding to the pressure, Pandit Ubraj Narine, former Mayor of Georgetown, Justice of the Peace, and former GDF Staff Sergeant, issued a scathing public letter accusing Minister Persaud of using “consultation” as a hollow slogan. He openly questioned whether the closed register was designed “to protect offenders within the PPP Party.”

Narine, invoking their shared Hindu faith, challenged Dr. Persaud on moral and philosophical grounds, referencing ancient Dharmic texts to highlight the gravity of shielding abusers.

“I referenced the Manusmriti precisely because the Honourable Minister is a Hindu,” Narine wrote. “One would expect, at minimum, an appreciation for the moral clarity within our own Dharma on the protection of women and children (boys and girls). Instead, this Bill offers secrecy where there should be transparency, and leniency where there must be vigilance.”

Narine cited Manusmriti 8.364, which states that the forcible violation of women deserves the highest gravity of punishment, to underscore the core societal obligation to protect the vulnerable.

“No one is arguing to transplant ancient punishments into modern statute. The point is principle,” Narine explained. “To advance a policy that shields offenders, even ‘first-time’ offenders, cuts directly against that moral foundation. A closed register deprives parents and communities of the knowledge needed to protect their children. It places the comfort and anonymity of offenders above public safety. That is unacceptable.”

Narine concluded with a direct challenge to the executive: “The Minister speaks repeatedly of public consultations. Guyanese are entitled to specifics. Which religious organisations were consulted? Which civil society groups? Which human rights bodies? Which political parties? If it happened, produce the record. If it did not, say so plainly… Incompetence at its best! Dr. Vindhya Persaud, this is a moment for reflection and correction. Guyana’s children and women need protection, not excuses.”

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• Consultation records, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Sex Offender Registry, Sexual Offences Bill

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