Location does not affect occurrence – Chief Justice

Acting Chief Justice Roxanne George said she does not believe persons in rural areas are more vulnerable to sexual harassment in the workplace.
Her comments came in response to a question posted at the University of Guyana’s Awareness and Action Forum held on Monday at the Pegasus Hotel, under the theme ‘Respect Due: Voices Against Sexual Misconduct in Institutions’.
The acting Chief Justice said she believes the location of a person does not matter, since persons can be harassed anywhere. “I do not know that the fact of working in remote areas means that one is more vulnerable (to sexual harassment in the work place). One can be in any area… I’m not saying that the remote areas provide for a more vulnerable situation, but it’s just to emphasise that the

remoteness of an area does not mean that one is more vulnerable (because) it can happen anywhere,” she posited while addressing a call made by an audience member, for the authorities to put protective measures in place for persons in rural areas.
The discussions were being done at that interactive session, with the intent of tackling sexual harassment in work places, rather than just highlighting them.
Gender Specialist, Adel Lilly from the Gender Affairs Bureau, Social Protection Ministry, highlighted the fact that both men and women and victims of sexual harassment in the workplace.
He added that the cultural norms must be broken and urged persons to speak out against this act. Lilly explained that sexual harassment in the workplace is an unwanted act that makes the victim feel intimated. It is usually meted out by persons who are in authority and abuse take advantage of their power.
“Many persons do not understand the entirety and consequences of sexual harassment and the person can be charged for violating someone,” he stated.
Lilly said he believes that the workplace should be one where decency is practiced and equal respect for workers should be demonstrated.
This month has been dedicated to Sexual Assault Awareness in Guyana and several other countries across the world.
The month-long awareness activities are being held under the theme ‘Embrace your Voice’. The sensitisation on this touchy issue comes at a time where Guyana is plagued by numerous cases of sexual assault against women and children.
In one of the most disheartening situations reported, a duo was found guilty of raping a 17-year old girl, who was then attached to the Barama Company Limited, East Bank Demerara.
Many still believe that partial justice was given since the case took nine years to come to an end. The teen was found naked and crying on a bed, at her workplace.
On the evening of December 5, 2007, the then 17-year-old female dryer operator was working the night shift when her Supervisor asked her for assistance and led her into a room, where he proceeded to rape and sodomise her.
He reportedly then locked the young woman in the room and later returned in the company of another who also reportedly proceeded to rape and sodomise her.
After some time elapsed, the two men left the room, locking the woman in, once more; it was then that a third person entered and reportedly sodomised the young woman.
Two of the accused were sentenced to prison, meanwhile the third walked free.
In another situation, an unrepentant child rapist was jailed for life.
Following a series of attacks on a young victim, Rohan Daniels, a logger, also known as “Shine Buck” was found guilty on two counts of sexual activity with a child family member. The court was tasked with handing a verdict on four separate counts of child sex activity.
According to the particulars, Daniels between April 12 and 13, 2014, and July 23, 2016 performed vaginally penetrative acts on the minor. She was between 10 and 13 years old during the span of the attacks.
According to the victim, since the sexual abuse, she often has nightmares and bad dreams with constant flashbacks of the harrowing attacks inflicted upon her. She said she does not play with friends and spends much time self-harming herself.