THE mother of a mentally challenged teenager who was raped, allegedly by a mini-bus driver recently, is appealing to the relevant authorities to legislate stiffer penalties for sex felons.

She said, if possible, they must have their photographs published in an effort to alert would-be victims.
These views were expressed by a West Coast Berbice woman, who told the Guyana Chronicle about the events surrounding her daughter being sexually violated by a known character and the subsequent involvement of her relatives.
She said, on January 7, at 10:50hrs, the 18-year-old left their home unnoticed and, when she realised the teen was missing, she asked  neighbours whether they knew of her whereabouts.
Initially, she was informed that the teenager was seen going to the back street but checks there did not find her. However, hours after searching the entire village and nearby places, she went to the Number Six Village gas station where an employee revealed that the teen was seen entering a ‘short drop’ bus driven by a man of many aliases.
The mother said after receiving the information, she journeyed to Fort Wellington Police Station and made a report, supplying additional details which allowed the ranks there to contact colleagues at Weldaad Police Station, also on the West Coast of Berbice.

WET CLOTHES
Subsequently, a friend travelling by car from Georgetown was contacted and he went to the home of the suspect, who said he had placed the teenager in a mini-bus going towards Rosignol. But, later, Weldaad Police visited the man’s shack and found the girl in wet clothes, as she had been bathed and hurriedly dressed.
The 47-year-old man was arrested and taken, along with the rescued teen, to Fort Wellington Station.
Her mother recalled that, when the suspect arrived at the station, just after 17:00hrs, several relatives were waiting and were all emotionally charged upon learning what had transpired with the girl who left school on completing her nursery education.
As a result, the suspect was given a thrashing and, because of what they did, two of her relatives are expected to make a Court appearance, shortly. The single mother said she is particularly concerned about the health of the suspect and, although initial blood test results have revealed that her daughter has not contracted a sexually transmitted disease, she remains scared, especially because her daughter’s status can change.
“My daughter is an epileptic. She cannot focus for a long period and would fly in a rage when she cannot keep up or is not understood. People who prey on vulnerable girls and women need to be brought to justice. They must be so punished that they would not think of repeating the act,” the woman declared.
Meanwhile, the police have since compiled a file which has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.