RESIDENTS of an Upper Corentyne village have expressed shock and anger over the alleged marriage of a 14-year-old female to a man in his 20’s on Sunday last.
The residents have reached out to the media to air their disgust after they notified the police sometime on Saturday who visited the home but were told it is not a wedding but a “Jhandi” (A Hindu prayer service).

When this newspaper questioned relatives regarding the event, conflicting reports were given with the mother of the young girl maintaining a prayer service, while an aunt said it was birthday party. However residents of the village stated they received verbal invitations for a wedding. “Abee get invite fuh a wedding but after we tell the police them change it to a Jandi but we understand that the actual wedding happen early in the morning before the Jandi. She is a little girl how them gon look to marry she so young,” one resident remarked.

Another told this publication that music had been playing since Friday and continued on into Sunday. “If was a Jandi them would a never had music from since Friday night plus on Saturday night them had big sport just like wedding who them a try to fool?” questioned another.

The villagers while speaking in anonymity, out of fear of being verbally abused by the family, are calling on the police to intervene. “She did get-away with the man two weeks ago so them probably decide to get them married but it not right, what kind a example them a set fuh others, it is against the law,” another said. The man is said to be 10 years senior to the child who recently became fourteen.

The age of consent was raised on October 31st 2005 from 13 to 16 thereby deeming any sexual activity below that age as statutory rape which can lead to prison sentences and hefty fines. Despite this, there have been numerous cases of underage girls getting married. In most instances the marriages are arranged and are consented to by both families as it is seen as a means of betterment for the girls.