Dear Editor,
HELP & Shelter calls on the APNU+AFC coalition to immediately remove Winston Harding as their candidate for the first- past-the-post seat in Constituency 13 (East and West Ruimveldt) in view of the fact that he has been repeatedly charged with child sexual abuse as reported in Stabroek News of 16 March, 2016.Even though Mr. Harding has not been convicted, the fact that he was charged twice must give everyone genuinely committed to eliminating child sexual abuse deep cause for concern, particularly as the matter was brought to the attention of the leadership of APNU+AFC and the Minister of Social Protection and yet his name remains on the list.
For the past 20 years, Help & Shelter has actively advocated for the prevention, protection and prosecution of all forms of child abuse, including child sexual abuse. We are on record as having called for ministers in the previous government to be charged and prosecuted for sexual assault and verbal abuse of a sexual nature against women; and we are deeply disappointed and shocked at the failure by Guyana’s present government to stand up for the rights of Guyana’s children to live lives free from all forms of violence and to avoid association with, and promotion of persons who have been tainted by repeated allegations of child sexual abuse.
What we know of paedophiles is that for the most part they are serial sexual predators and leave in their wake many psychologically and physically damaged children. We ask the ruling coalition to reflect on the message that it is sending to citizens when it puts an alleged sexual abuser of children on the ballot for Local Government Elections and, when this matter is brought to its attention, it chooses party politics over justice and the rights of children. This is not the type of social protection we want.
We further call for the immediate convening of the sexual offences task force and for the establishment of genuine partnerships with NGOs who have established track records of working for the prevention, protection and prosecution of child abuse and in , child sexual abuse.
Yours faithfully,
Danuta Radzik
Josephine Whitehead
Denise Dias
Colin Marks
Gaitrie Shivsankar
For Help & Shelter