Dear Editor,
The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026, laid in Parliament by Dr. Vindhya Persaud, is being advanced as reform. Yet the proposal to maintain a closed register for first-time sexual offenders exposes a serious lapse in judgment and a troubling distance from the lived realities of Guyanese families Or may be the Minister wants to protect offenders within the PPP Party.
I referenced the Manusmriti precisely because the Honourable Minister is a Hindu. One would expect, at minimum, an appreciation for the moral clarity within our own Dharma on the protection of women and children (boys and girls). Instead, this Bill offers secrecy where there should be transparency, and leniency where there must be vigilance.
Any parent in Guyana understands the fear that follows every headline, every whisper in the community. We do not live in policy papers; we live in villages, wards, and neighbourhoods where information saves lives. A closed register deprives parents and communities of the knowledge needed to protect their children. It places the comfort and anonymity of offenders above public safety. That is unacceptable.
The Minister speaks repeatedly of public consultations. Guyanese are entitled to specifics. Which religious organisations were consulted? Which civil society groups? Which human rights bodies? Which political parties? Consultation cannot be a slogan. If it happened, produce the record. If it did not, say so plainly. Anything else insults the intelligence of the public.
From a Dharmic standpoint, the position is even more baffling. Manusmriti 8.364 states:
balāt saṃgrahaṇaṃ strīṇāṃ vadha eva na saṃśayaḥ
“The forcible violation of women deserves the punishment of death; of this there is no doubt.”
No one is arguing to transplant ancient punishments into modern statute. The point is principle. Our own Hindu texts leave no ambiguity about the gravity of sexual violence and the duty of society to stand firmly with victims. To advance a policy that shields offenders—even “first-time” offenders—cuts directly against that moral foundation.
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Protection has failed the nation on this issue. Leadership in this portfolio demands empathy for parents, respect for victims, and courage to put public safety first. This Bill, as drafted, does not meet that standard.
𝐊𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐣𝐢 Dr. Vindhya Persaud, this is a moment for reflection and correction. Guyana’s children and women need protection, not excuses; transparency, not closed doors. Get it right. The country is watching. Incompetence at its best!!!!
Yours truly,
Pt. Ubraj Narine, JP, COA
Former Staff Sgt. (GDF), Mayor
City of Georgetown
