The opposition Alliance For Change (AFC) has called for the immediate resignation of Minister of Human Services and Social Security Vindhya Persaud and the withdrawal of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026, arguing that the proposed legislation undermines efforts to protect victims of sexual violence at a time when Guyana continues to grapple with high levels of sexual offences and adolescent pregnancies.
In a strongly worded statement, the AFC accused the minister of abandoning her responsibility to protect vulnerable citizens and instead advancing legislation that appears to favour offenders.
“Minister Persaud should resign immediately. It is clear that Minister Persaud has forgotten that her mandate is to protect the vulnerable, not shield predators,” the party said.
The criticism centres on Bill No. 6 of 2026, the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, which was recently tabled in the National Assembly. According to the AFC, several provisions in the bill raise serious concerns about the management of the Sex Offenders Registry and the monitoring of convicted offenders.
The party’s objections come amid troubling statistics on sexual violence in Guyana. Government data indicate that more than 77 per cent of child sexual abuse victims are under the age of 18, while girls account for the overwhelming majority of victims.
Girls between the ages of 14 and 18 are considered the most vulnerable group. Authorities have also reported that more than 70 per cent of sexual assault cases involve children and that more than 90 per cent of victims are female.
Further highlighting the scope of the problem, police statistics show that Guyana records an average of approximately 206 rape reports annually. Child protection concerns have also intensified following the disclosure that 584 pregnant girls under the age of 16 were referred to the Childcare and Protection Agency between 2020 and 2025.
Against that backdrop, the AFC said the Government should be strengthening protections for victims rather than advancing amendments that it believes could weaken public safeguards.
“At a time when Guyana is experiencing alarming levels of teenage pregnancy, statutory rape, rape, and sexual assault, the Minister has chosen to table legislation that appears more focused on protecting offenders than safeguarding victims,” the party stated.
The AFC questioned what it described as efforts to limit public access to information contained in the Sex Offenders Registry and sought explanations for provisions that would exempt certain offenders from being placed on the registry.
“Several serious questions arise from this legislation. Why is the Government going to such lengths to conceal the sex offender registry from public scrutiny? Did the Minister fully review and understand the implications of this bill before tabling it?” the statement said.
The party also raised concerns about provisions requiring convicted offenders to report to a Toshao in communities where there is no police presence.
“The bill proposes that convicted offenders report to a Toshao in communities where there is no police presence. What makes the Minister believe that offenders will willingly comply with such a requirement? Moreover, why, in 2026, are there still communities without adequate police presence?” the AFC asked.
The opposition party further questioned provisions allowing exemptions from the registry for certain categories of offenders, including individuals deemed mentally disabled.
“While most reasonable people would agree that records involving minors should, in appropriate circumstances, be sealed, who determines whether an offender is mentally disabled for the purpose of exemption? If a court has convicted an individual of a sexual offence, it suggests that any defence based on mental incapacity was either unsuccessful or insufficient to prevent a finding of guilt,” the AFC argued.
The Sexual Offences Act and subsequent amendments have formed a central part of Guyana’s efforts to combat sexual violence, improve victim protection and monitor convicted offenders. In recent years, the Government has also introduced measures such as the Sex Offenders Registry, the Family Violence Act, the Hope and Justice Centre and expanded reporting mechanisms aimed at supporting victims.
However, the AFC contends that the latest amendments risk sending the wrong message at a time when sexual violence remains a major social concern.
“The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026 is a slap in the face of the many women, men, and children who have suffered sexual abuse. It sends a troubling message that the concerns of victims are secondary to the interests of offenders,” the party declared.
The AFC said the bill should be withdrawn and subjected to broader public scrutiny before proceeding any further.
“This legislation is unworthy of the National Assembly and should neither be supported nor passed in its current form,” the party stated, adding that Minister Persaud should “immediately withdraw the bill, address the legitimate concerns being raised by citizens, and accept responsibility for this serious lapse in judgment by tendering her resignation.”
The proposed amendments are expected to face further debate in the National Assembly as lawmakers and stakeholders examine their implications for victim protection, offender monitoring and public safety.
