PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali’s decision to send the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill to a Select Committee is a sensible and responsible move that should be welcomed by all Guyanese.
The legislation, which will enhance the protection of the victims of sexual violence and establish Guyana’s first National Sex Offenders Registry, involves matters of vital national interest.
And such a bill warrants close examination, vigorous debate, and broad public confidence before it becomes law.
A central question in the ongoing discussion is: Will the proposed registry be open to the public or closed? President Ali, the Cabinet, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud have all indicated they support a public registry.
This is a position well worth serious consideration, for it puts the safety of citizens, especially children and other vulnerable persons, above all else.
The function of a sex offenders registry is more than just an administrative one. It is designed to enhance public safety, increase transparency, and help communities make informed decisions.
Parents have a legitimate interest in knowing if convicted sexual offenders are living in their neighbourhoods or have access to settings that children frequent.
Schools, community organisations and vulnerable individuals should not be kept in the dark about possible risks that can affect their safety and well-being.
It is not possible to ignore issues of privacy, rehabilitation and rights of offenders, no doubt. Public policy must always balance the rights of individuals and the protection of communities
However, sexual offences, particularly those against children and vulnerable adults, have an impact that is far-reaching beyond the period of imprisonment.
For victims, the trauma can last a lifetime. Any legislative regimes, therefore, must place the protection of potential victims above the comfort of convicted offenders.
The choice of sending the bill to a Select Committee permits these conflicting considerations to be explored in some detail.
Legal experts, child protection advocates, human rights organisations, law enforcement officials and members of the public can address Parliamentarians. This consultation will ensure the final legislation is effective, and constitutionally sound.
Also important is the bill’s proposal to criminalise the failure to report suspected sexual offences against children and vulnerable adults.
The penalties for not reporting such offences, which can include fines and even imprisonment, highlight a growing understanding that the safeguarding of vulnerable people is a shared social duty. People are too often choosing silence over action and abuse continues.
This sends a clear message that you cannot ignore suspected abuse.
Guyana has taken important steps toward strengthening protections for victims of sexual violence, but more work needs to be done.
The establishment of a National Sex Offenders Registry is a welcome step forward. But if the registry is to serve its intended purpose, it should be available to the public in a carefully regulated, transparent and public safety-oriented manner.
Now, the Select Committee process gives us a chance to get the legislation right. The primary focus should not be political expediency or PR, but the development of a legal framework that protects the vulnerable, supports victims and helps prevent future offences. There should be little dispute on that principle.
Public safety has to be the first priority.
