By GHK Lall- Things come together. The pieces form a whole. They tell a political horror story. Straight from the mouth of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security came a number: 584. In 5 years, there were 584 instances of underaged pregnancies. In harsher words: 584 real cases of statutory rape. Over two statutory rapes a week, for five years, which leads to several thoughts, all discomforting. Moving along.
I invite Dr. Clifton Hicken, Top Cop, to enlighten the public. Please share the number charged with that offense in the last five years. News of statutory rapes usually hit the media early, sharply, efficiently. If there have been 84 reports of charges laid, those would be more than seen in all of Guyana’s media combined. A mere 84, not as much as 584 of such instances. This isn’t speculation, or guesswork.
It’s the 584 pregnancies the ministry revealed. Would help immensely if the Commissioner, Dr. Hicken, provides the list of those charged in the last five years with the heinous offense of statutory rape. Surely, that doesn’t rise to the level of protected information, that a blanket of secrecy is best in the circumstance. Names of accused are all that’s sought; not those of victims. Not even locations of the crimes. I can’t say alleged crimes. For there were those underage pregnancies, weren’t they? And that requires a rapist. Because there are those victimized young daughters of Guyana.
I proceed further, with three subsidiary inquiries. What about those statutory rapes that didn’t result in a pregnancy? Or, those that did, but were not reported? To avoid the horror of family stigma. To give a young child a second chance in life, and not burdened her throughout life with that inerasable blotch. There’s still that third inquiry. What about those situations where some sleazy business was transacted, when those who needed their involvement and identity kept secret, paid in dollars for their crimes?
The 584 instances of underage pregnancies, in all probability, would be much higher. In this country, in its ugly circumstances, in its governance, in its disfiguring developments in high places and low places, secrecy ranks among what’s most prized. Inevitably, this brings to the Sexual Offenders’ Registry and that determined effort by the PPP Govt to keep it secret.
What does that say, fellow citizens? What message does a secret Sexual Offenders’ Registry convey? There are people (scumbags) to be protected. There are many such lowlifes to be given immunity. When the PPP Govt boasts (rightly) about its work to initiate a Sexual Offenders’ Registry, but was then tricky enough to keep the identities of the offenders’ secret, what was going on there? I get rid of something. The PPP Govt is not in the business of protecting political opponents and those who expose it. The PNC is out. WIN is out.
So, also, would be conscientious Guyanese objectors. They would be buried alive should they be involved in a statutory rape. So, who were the criminals that the PPP Govt was looking to protect by having a secret sex offenders’ registry? Before moving forward, a reminder for Guyanese. There are those who have committed statutory rape, but represented much political use to the PPP Govt. Thus, they are in that special place: breakers of the law now among the makers of laws.
The question returns. Why did the PPP Govt felt it wise, saw it as helpful, to introduce a secret Sexual Offenders’ Registry? There must be powerful perps to protect. A significant constituency to secure. I think of custom and practice. I think, in all this, of those who don’t count, other than when being used. And abused.
So, when word came of Pres Ali and VP Jagdeo galloping into town, like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, three conclusions came. With public rage inflamed, the closed registry had to be opened. Second, it had to be, because their own supporters were hopping mad; they know pain and shame. Third, the game was up. The secret Sexual Offenders’ Registry is now to be public. Such is Guyana. This is one example of how the calculating suddenly discovers courage.
