8 NEWS Govt official arrested for alleged rape of 13-year-old relative A WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020
Government official was on Monday arrested, after he was accused of raping and ultimately impregnating a 13-year-old relative. According to the police, the man was arrested and escorted to the Karasabai Police Station, South Pakaraimas, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), where an investigation was launched. Guyana Times understands that the teenager is now four months pregnant. Based on the allegation and seriousness of the matter, the official was transported to the Lethem Police Station, where he is currently being held. The teenager was medi-
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cally examined which proved that she is pregnant. For last year, 61 per cent of cases slated for the Demerara Azizes constituted of rape charges solely. The need for more counselling to be done in sexual abuse cases was highlighted in a report from NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) ChildLink about child sexual abuse in Guyana. It was suggested that such services have been improved to help affected children recover. The report reflected that in 2014, 3883 cases of child abuse were reported to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) of which 628 (or 16 per cent) were child sexual abuse cases.
In 2017, the CC&PA saw a total of 4179 cases of abuse reported, with 841 (20 per cent) of these being child sexual abuse. It was also found that in a period of three years (2014- 2017) there was an increase of five per cent in reported cases of child sexual abuse. ChildLink had further explained that in 2015 and 2016, the CC&PA received 676 and 734 reports of sexual violence, respectively constituting 15 per cent of the reported cases of abuse against children. Child sexual abuse is when an adult or older child coerces, forces, or persuades a child into sexual activities, according to ChildLink, which describes the act as
alarming and distressing since it causes trauma among other issues for a child. The report suggested that with more counselling, child victims are being enabled and empowered to recount what happened to them. It was also noted that there was some improvement in the delivery of services to children who have been sexually abused. It has been reported that since the launch of the Sexual Offences Court in November 2017 by the acting Chancellor and the Judiciary, there has been a successful prosecution rate of approximately 80 per cent in child sexual abuse cases that have made it to the specialised court at the High Court in Georgetown.
1 new COVID-19 case recorded bringing total positive cases to 206 – active cases remain at 87
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here has been one new case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) locally, increasing the positives to 206. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud provided the daily update on Tuesday, which showed the number of deaths remaining at 12. With 107 recoveries, there are still 87 active cases in institutional isolation and 22 patients in institutional quarantine. One individual was transferred in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU) over the past day. With Guyana at the helm of repatriating persons stranded overseas, the CMO insisted that they should follow all guidelines and present accurate information to health officials. “Guyana is at the crossroads in this pandemic. We must put a handle on the number of reported cases,
and so I wish to plead with our repatriating nationals to act responsibly and provide the health authorities with accurate information on their arrival. This is the only way that the Ministry and the surveillance team will effectively be able to monitor you and manage the COVID -19 situation. Today I wish to focus on the barbershops and their clientele,” he advised. At present, the male population continues to be mostly at risk. He stated that barbershops are the venues where many persons are accustomed to “congregate, socialise and have conversations on whatever topic is current” but presently, they should make the choice to desist from such risky practices. “The owner of the barbershop has the responsibility to ensure that physical distancing is observed; no over-
CMO, Dr Shamdeo Persaud
crowding, and that there is provision for handwashing. Wearing a mask must also be an important part of the set-up. As it relates to children, you should look after them separately and not have them mingle with the general crowd; you can either set up appointments for them or have a special time
when only children will be accommodated,” Dr Persaud advised. With reports of students contracting the virus, he urged those reporting to school to practice good hygiene and the guidelines outlined. This is the second week of school activities to prepare for the respective examinations. “A special appeal is being made to you our students. I know that the countdown to your exams has begun… We encourage you and your friends to follow the guidelines which have been outlined for your safety and protection.” On Monday, the National COVID-19 Task Force held an emergency multi-stakeholder meeting to discuss the alarming increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in parts of Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). According to the Task Force, decisions were taken to implement enhanced containment measures within the affected areas in these regions and these will be gazetted shortly. “The enhanced containment measures will include cease work orders for specific areas in the mining sector, screening, wider testing, checkpoints and other measures in several locations within Regions One and Seven. Specific details will be provided subsequently. These measures are necessary and urgent by the medical experts so as to prevent the wider spread of COVID-19 in these two regions along with other regions,” the Task Force said on Monday evening. Globally, the total number of positive cases is 8,860,331 with 465,740 deaths. In the region of the Americas, the total number of positive cases is 4,370, 519 with 221,771 deaths.
And here we go… A
…off to the CCJ nd no, Dorothy, this is no Yellow Brick Road that’ll lead to the Emerald City to find a Wizard who’ll explain everything. After all, we’ve been down this road before, haven’t we?? Ah…you remember, don’t you, Dear Reader?? Was that time when all the rulers in the land were gathered to decide the fate of our dear Mudland and the PNC mavens were stumped by that abstruse mathematical conundrum that rivalled the Poincaré Conjecture. What was the majority of 65? The idiots in the Opposition had proposed that since the PNC had captured the Government back in 2015 because they had 33 seats to form a majority in the 65-member House, the answer was 33. What dunderheads!! This was a MATHEMATICAL question, insisted the PNC and, as pointed out by a local Einstein, if you applied it to human affairs, you’d have to chop humans into halves and join them up later. Cause when you’re dealing with humans, a simple majority wouldn’t do – you needed something called an absolute” majority – which evidently involved the aforementioned dismemberments! A pretty messy business, all around!! Anyhow, the Lords of the CCJ over in the Land of Carnival didn’t so much solve our problem as tell us in so many words that we ought to settle our business among ourselves since the question posed about “majorities” really needed no “gloss”. Which was just their fancy way of saying that any idiot could’ve solved it. And not even an idiot savant!! So, we returned home and of course, nothing was solved! So here we are, going back for a repeat performance – this time to ask what’s the difference between “more votes than” and “more valid votes than”. Another deep and philosophical question, obviously. Your Eyewitness assumes it has to do with that word “valid” which the PNC got the Court of Appeal to insert into the Constitution. But what does your Eyewitness know since he figures it’ll be just like those votes which got the PNC elected back in 2015. GECOM had pronounced those votes valid then so why couldn’t they do the same this time?? Or did the PNC slink into office with “invalid” votes?? But we do know that we’re just going around in circles, don’t we? As Burnham used to say, these objections about “majorities” and “valid votes”, etc, are merely the OCCASION for the war – not the CAUSE of the war!! And it IS a war – one fought by rules that the PNC makes up as it goes along. The sooner the PPP realises this, the quicker we’ll have a solution. The Yellow Brick Road was always there – just go past the PNC’s bullshit. …waiting on Claudette The absurdist play “Waiting for Godot” came out the same year we had our first elections using universal franchise. It was about two fellas talking about everything under the sun – which just illustrates the meaninglessness of life – as they wait for a friend Godot, to arrive. He never does. The two chaps could well have been Cheddi and Forbes – today represented by Jagdeo and Granger – waiting for their friend “Justice” to arrive. Today, that’s represented by GECOM Chair Claudette who’s supposed to show up and impose some order on the chaos unfolding out of the elections. Elections are supposed to solve the problems in our dear land, no?? Problem is, they’re literally CONTESTED events!! Can’t get more divisive than that!! And for this reason, we agreed to a system where someone agreeable to both sides would be the umpire, so to speak. Problem is, Claudette seems too coquettish about her role. She seems not wanting to displease either side. She doesn’t have to. Just dismiss Lowenfield’s concoction and dispense justice!! …with the cad and bounder Granger might’ve been an officer, but he was never a gentleman. No gentleman would play the kind of dirty pool like him from the moment he assumed office on the backs of the AFC. Even if they were willing to be doormats. Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com
