The outcry from Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, over the handling of a domestic violence case in Leguan, Region Three (Essequibo Islands -West Demerara) highlights a critical and urgent issue within Guyana’s legal system.
The case in question involves 26-year-old speedboat captain, Orwin Rankin, who was charged with unlawful wounding after allegedly violently assaulting his fiancée, Selina Sookram, a mother of three. The graphic evidence shared by the victim’s mother on social media, showing the victim bloodied and bruised, drew national attention and renewed concerns about the efficacy of our legal system in protecting victims of domestic abuse. Despite the disturbing nature of the allegations, Rankin was released on a mere $40,000 bail and granted weekend custody of a child who may have been exposed to the violence.
Dr Persaud’s statement following this ruling underscore a harsh and unfortunate reality: the court system, at times, appears to be out of step with the gravity of domestic violence and the trauma it inflicts particularly on women and children.
This newspaper is not condemning Magistrate Dylon Bess or any individual judicial officer. Magistrates are bound to operate within the framework of the law, weighing the evidence before them and maintaining the rights of the accused, including the presumption of innocence. However, what Dr Persaud’s comments underscore is that even within those boundaries, there is discretion and that discretion must be informed by the lived realities of domestic violence victims in Guyana.
When a woman is seen bleeding from her face, and her alleged abuser is granted low bail and continued access to a shared child, the message received by victims and the wider society is not one of safety, justice, or deterrence, it is one of abandonment.
The Family Violence Bill, passed in 2024, was designed to address precisely such issues. The legislation introduced 58 new clauses to strengthen protections for survivors and hold perpetrators accountable. It represents a significant legal and policy advancement, incorporating emotional, psychological, financial, and physical abuse into the definition of family violence. Yet, as Minister Persaud rightly laments, it appears the legislation is not being fully or effectively utilized in our courts.
The gap between legislation and enforcement must be closed, urgently. For laws to have meaning, they must be applied, and for victims to feel safe, the justice system must demonstrate a clear and consistent commitment to their protection.
Therefore, when these survivors step into the judicial arena, they must not be met with decisions that seem to dismiss their suffering or place them back into danger.
This is where the courts must act not just as interpreters of the law, but as protectors of the vulnerable. Judicial officers should be sensitized to the unique dynamics of domestic abuse, including coercive control, economic dependency, and trauma. Bail decisions and custody arrangements must reflect the high risk and potential lethality associated with domestic violence cases.
It is essential that the courts apply the Family Violence Bill rigorously and consistently.
It is also important that the justice system adopts a trauma-informed approach that does not revictimize survivors. The courts must coordinate with social services, consider risk assessments, and where applicable, impose conditions on bail that prioritize the safety and well-being of victims and their children.
Domestic violence survivors deserve a justice system that affirms their right to safety and dignity. The legal framework exists. The national will is evident. What remains necessary is consistent, informed application of the law at every level of the judicial process.
Guyana must not allow justice to become a revolving door for abusers. Courts must serve as firm guardians of protection and justice for the most vulnerable.
Let this moment not be another cycle in the long-standing inertia that has characterized domestic violence cases in Guyana. Let it be a turning point.
