The alleged sexual violation of a minor by a minister

Recent incredibly shocking revelations of alleged sexual misconduct by a certain government minister has left decent citizens scratching their heads about the integrity of the named minister.

In a properly governed democracy, such allegations would be sufficient for the minister to voluntarily step aside from his ministerial position to allow for a thorough and impartial investigation in the issue. But our country is not so well governed, and the minister would not step down from his position. It is shameless of the Ali- led government to find nothing reprehensible allowing the minister to hold on to his position of power and influence in the face of those damning allegations.

It is public knowledge attempts have been made to certain individuals to persuade the alleged victim to recant the allegations citing political motivation. A statement to the Anna Regina Police, purportedly signed by the child that the information circulating in the social media does not relate to her and she has no knowledge in the public domain fools no one.

But even if the allegations are not true, a caring government should want to err on the side of the law and ask the minister to proceed on leave to facilitate a full investigation.

Unfortunately, society are expecting the government to go into public relations overdrive to a way to side-step or minimise the impact of these allegations on the government and our society as a whole. Perhaps, they might get through at diluting the effects of the alleged dastardly occurrence. Perhaps, too, they might convince the teenage girl involved to deny that the sexual abuse never happened.

The PPP/C ought to know that Guyanese are not stupid. While they might appear to be getting away with this, and other alleged atrocities, Guyanese are paying very keen attention to the behaviour of this government. The question that must be asked by all right- thinking persons is why would a teenage- girl deliberately concoct, with such detail and specificity such a damming story of sexual abuse on her person by a minister. Especially since her mother works with the named minister?

The government must also know that: “Lying once makes it easier to do it the next time and the time after that. Deceit has a funny way of propagating until it finally destroys the thing it was attempting to protect..” Merida Johns, Blackhorse Road Novel.

All citizens, women organiSations, local and international, to agitate and do everything within their powers to force the government to hold a proper investigation into these allegations and to protect the rights of our girls and women. (Guest Editorial)