The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has noted with deep concern the sexual molestation allegations involving Mr. Chandra Narine Sharma, Leader of the Justice for All Party, who is alleged to have committed the acts being featured prominently in the media. In a statement yesterday, the ruling party said, “These are very serious allegations. The PPP has spent all of its life struggling to defend the vulnerable, including children and people living in difficult economic circumstances, from predators and pedophiles.”
The PPP observed that, to this end, a bill to deal with such crimes will be tabled in Parliament tomorrow.
The bill emerges from a Special Select Committee of the Parliament and hopefully, it would be passed unanimously, the PPP said.
“In this case, we urge that thorough investigations be done so that justice would prevail. All must be equal in the face of the law, regardless of wealth and influence,” the party said.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), Ms. Indra Chandarpal, in regard to the numerous reported incidents of child abuse and such, said the organisation supports any action against perpetrators.
“So any action that seeks to do that, we are for it. Of course, in society there are lots of predators and we need to work to expose them and to deal with them condignly,” she said.
Asked if she thinks enough is being done to halt child abuse, she said, “There is always room for much more to be done.”
“You can never say there is enough because there is a lot of work to change attitudes, in developing people perspectives about things.
She said the WPO, through its interactions with groups, talks to women about these issues.
“This is a continuous trend, a continuous work of educating women and children about their rights, about domestic violence, about abuse, and all these matters,” she said.