New legislation to be passed next year to tackle domestic violence – AG

The new year will see the revamping of key legislation and the passing of new ones as the Government explores new ways to stamp out domestic violence which has seen an alarming rise during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is according to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, SC, who on Friday delivered remarks at the opening of the domestic violence interview and virtual hearing rooms in the Berbice Magisterial District. The rooms were opened at the Weldaad, Blairmont, Whim, Reliance, and New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Courts.

Describing domestic violence as a monstrosity, Nandlall said that this societal scourge transcends racial, ethnic, religious, class, and professional identity. Against this backdrop, he noted that the Government recognises domestic violence as a “serious problem” and remains committed to stamping it out in every form.

However, the Attorney General noted that a collective effort is needed to do this. “It cannot be a job alone for the Government. It is too huge a problem that has clawed its way into society… It is a societal problem and all of us [must help] in stamping it out,” he told those gathered.
Year after year, according to Nandlall, the Government has been investing a lot of money into social programmes in the various Ministries, in particular, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, to eliminate domestic violence.
Nandlall said, too, that the Government has also partnered with UNICEF, the US, UK, and Canadian Governments in its fights against domestic violence. He reminded that in 1996, the Domestic Violence Act was passed and it remains one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation in the Caribbean region.
Notwithstanding, he pointed out that “we have to continuously explore new initiatives whether they are legislative, whether they are social, whether they are political… whatever necessary measures that can have an effect on this fundamental problem that we face as a people.”
To this end, he disclosed that in 2022, the Domestic Violence Act will undergo a “complete overhaul”. This, he added, is only a small measure but, nevertheless, it will de be done. The Attorney General stressed that domestic violence has a devastating spin-off effect.

For context, he explained, “First of all it destroys that social unit of the family that forms the basis of a modern society. Domestic violence strikes at the heart of that social unit and when that social unit is attacked, the way domestic violence attacks, then the spin-off are damaging…”
And this, according to him, leads to violent crimes, suicide, sexual abuse, trafficking in person among other social problems. To this end, he further disclosed that new trafficking in person legislation will also be tabled in the National Assembly. Guyana’s Sexual Offences Act will also be subjected to an overhaul next year, the Attorney General added.
Emphasising that “we have to become innovative” in addressing domestic violence, Nandlall said that a Restorative Justice Bill will be tabled in the National Assembly in 2022.
Restorative justice is a relatively new concept that seeks to repair harm by providing an opportunity for those harmed and those who take responsibility for the harm to communicate about and address their needs in the aftermath of a crime.
Nandlall pointed out that restorative justice is the lighter side of punishment that is influenced mainly by rehabilitative practices and reforming as opposed to punitive sentences. Also, the Attorney General revealed that come 2022, sexual harassment and anti-discriminatory laws will be tabled in the National Assembly.

Considering all of this, he added, “…we can’t travel a singular road with domestic violence in our country, we have to adopt a multifaceted approach and that is what our Government is committed to doing…”
Very soon, he said that the Legal Affairs Ministry will establish a unit providing medical, legal, counselling, and any related services to domestic violence/sexual violence victims on a 24-hour basis. This is in light of the difficulties such victims face in accessing vital services.
Earlier this year, domestic violence interview and virtual hearing rooms were commissioned at the Leonora and Wales Magistrate’s Courts in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). Similar rooms will be commissioned in the coming months at more courts across the country. The project is being executed through financial support from UNICEF.
Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, other Judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, Magistrate Peter Hugh, court staffers, and Police officers were among those who attended the commissioning of the domestic violence interview and virtual hearing rooms in the Berbice Magisterial District.
Earlier this week, Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud reported that an alarming 55 per cent of Guyanese women are exposed to violence.
“In our own country the numbers remain worrying. We have 55 per cent of women who would’ve experienced some form of violence in their life, usually in a relationship setting. We will not rest, we will continue to work tirelessly until we manage to deliver effective, efficient services and we manage to provide the kind of support that is needed for those persons that experience violence and abuse,” Persaud said.
Dr Persaud explained that as a result of non-existing support systems, poor kinships and financial dependency, many victims of violence stay in life-threatening relationships.
Meanwhile, UN Spotlight Initiative Programme Officer and Attorney-at-Law, Anuradha Persaud said that statistics show that it may take a woman nine tries before she eventually leaves an abusive relationship. But by the final attempt, the woman dies at the hands of her abuser, Persaud noted.