By Akola Thompson

IN 2009, then opposition Member of Parliament Volda Lawrence in responding to allegations of solicitation of sex from a minor by then government official Kwame McCoy, stated, “McCoy is a shame and disgrace to the Human Services Ministry and the work of Minister Priya Manickchand and her staff.” After McCoy’s placement on the Rights of the Child Commission, she was further reported as saying, “It matters not whether the allegations are true or not,” adding that an investigation should be launched into the matter.In January of this year, upon reading that now Minister of Social Protection Lawrence had pledged greater protection for the nation’s children, I was happy that there was finally someone in place who cares about our children and their protection in that portfolio. She even urged parents and communities to not protect predators “out of a desire to save them from embarrassment.”

Fast forward two months and one realises that while her speeches might be what the public wants to hear, they might be merely cosmetic. The drastic change in Lawrence’s tune from do “not protect predators” to dubbing allegations of child molestation as a “family matter,” leaves one to wonder whether those rules apply only to those not directly related to the coalition she is a part of. If that is the case, I’m now not particularly optimistic about the changes she would bring to childcare and protection in Guyana.

For Lawrence to label allegations of child molestation as simply a “family issue,” is not only an insult to us, but to our children who are constantly being raped and abused. In calling it a “family issue,” she is discouraging those countless children who wish to see their molesters imprisoned from ever making reports, because they do not believe they will get the justice they deserve, especially if their molester happens to be well connected.

President Granger was reported as saying he will be seeking an explanation from Lawrence. An explanation is necessary, yes, but I believe what he should be seeking also is a form of resignation or movement to another ministry, where she will not be tasked with the protection of our people and children. [
She stated that the coalition was “aware of the situation but he [Harding] was never charged.” My only question is, if the coalition knew he was a repeatedly charged offender of indecent assault with allegations of child molestation being levelled against him, why only upon the rise of public pressure was their support withdrawn?
It may seem a bit idealistic, but as someone who left their home on the West Bank and travelled to Kuru Kuru to vote for the coalition in the 2015 May 11 elections, I expect them to be more careful in who they throw their support behind and try to protect. Forgive me if I do not want any Kwames, Rohees, Bheris or Nandlalls in the government I voted for.

Now, unfortunately, Harding has won in his constituency and there is nothing that could legally be done to stop him from being on the council. Let’s not be delusional and believe that the coalition’s support had nothing to do with that win. It is no secret that those who voted for him were guided by the fact that he was a coalition candidate. After all, President Granger in his recent visit to Linden suggested that independent candidates did not stand as good a chance of bearing fruit to the changes they promised when he urged voters to ask independent candidates if they would be able to, “speak to the Minister of Public Infrastructure if I want to fix my roads? If they say “no”… I’m voting for people who are well connected.”

It is in times like these when I am especially grateful for organisations such as Red Thread that immediately call out politicians on their transgressions. They did not wait until public pressure to issue statements such as the one issued by the government, which said that, the “accusations of child molestation as reported in the media are a matter of grave concern.”
There is no denying that this is a serious misstep on both Minister Lawrence’s part and the coalition’s. Party politics should never, even for a moment trump the protection of those they are there to protect. The coalition owes not only an explanation to the people, but also swift actions on issues they have been offering just lip service to.

The coalition aside, what I have also found notable is the fact that aside from a letter to the editor from Charles S. Ramson, the opposition has remained mum on the issue. One must wonder if their silence has anything to do with still having McKoy under their wing.