It is with interest that I read Red Thread’s recent letter in the Guyana Times. Albeit the focus on my use of legal jargon that, considering the context in which I wrote my last column, is irrelevant, I believe the tone does warrant a response.
To begin with, while in my capacity as President of GEPAN, I made myself entirely available to the victim, and as recent as last Wednesday requested that any clarification, if necessary, be provided to rectify the information I would have received since the matter erupted last year, she has to date made no attempt in this direction. And whereas the court did not order the victim to procure a lawyer (the only technicality requiring clarification), the case was on the verge of being dropped due to reported inadequacies of the police prosecutor.
The letter claims that “the complainant [whom I referred to as the “victim”] had previously written to the leadership of her political party to report his assault, and it was this report to which Minister Amna Ally responded.” Social Protection Minister Amna Ally did meet with the victim on January 27, 2017, although the victim’s ordeal occurred in September 2016. However, it was omitted that the matter was reported to the police, the party, and by extension the Government, as early as November 2016. Pursuant to the reports, inaction encouraged the victim to solicit President Granger’s intervention. In November, PNC Chairman and Attorney General Basil Williams also gathered knowledge of the matter in Lethem. Therefore, whatever plea for justice and help Ally might have responded to was definitely not the victim’s first, nor was her response of great assistance in moving forward.
Interestingly, I note the letter’s detailed and defensive account of what transpired at the Social Protection Ministry. Yet, regardless of the nature of the meetings which unfolded between de Souza/Red Thread, Minister Ally, and the victim, no guarantees of commitment to justice or assistance from the Ministry were forthcoming.
Nevertheless, Red Thread mentioned being “totally supportive of the complainant throughout the process, from her reporting to the police to the present court hearing.” This is good news, since the victim must receive all the support she can get. However, it has been almost a year since Parker was accused, and Red Thread’s public attempts to call out the Government on the anomalies surrounding the case to date probably resume to less than 5 published letters and articles in the press. And while accompanying the victim to court hearings is indeed a welcome and supportive gesture, it might be considered insufficient to valorise the organisation’s commitment. I am happy, nevertheless, to witness the organisation’s newfound vigour.
Meanwhile, GEPAN has been intensely vocal on this issue via several platforms, including the media, the organisation’s website, and social media. Additionally, the organisation petitioned, on behalf of the victim, both Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan and President Granger himself. Prior to this, the organisation petitioned the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples, to draw the attention of the international community on the violations of indigenous peoples’ rights in Region #9, which included complaints of sexual assault on women allegedly committed by Parker prior to the one for which he is currently being judged.
It must be understood that, beyond the legal advice which was provided to the victim, GEPAN has been relentless over the past months in its call for a lawyer to represent the victim gratuitously. It is with deep satisfaction that the organisation notes its efforts were not in vain, and that the Director of Public Prosecutions was informed during the course of this past week of the victim’s interest in having a lawyer represent her.
So, instead of sarcastically focusing on my personal “zeal” and use of legal jargon, perhaps Red Thread’s President should invest her energies in a more impacting campaign against Parker’s apparent status of impunity.
As she rightly stated, “This is the first time we know of that court proceedings relating to a sexual offence are ongoing against a prominent official of a ruling administration”. Consolidating efforts in civil society would therefore achieve much more than pettiness. De Souza must understand that this is not an individualistic competition for merit, but rather a move to set precedence in Guyana for all those who believe that abuse of power can go unpunished. GEPAN is committed to the people of the Rupununi who have suffered under Parker, and we welcome all cooperation, including from Red Thread.
And the Arrow will continue to share in this cause.
