“There is no compromise” – President on rights of women, children

…says will “respect” outcome of Dharamlall rape probe
…will not be intimidated by Opposition-led protests – DPP

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday assured that he would respect the outcome of the investigation into sexual assault allegations levelled against Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall.
When the matter wraps up, the Head of State has said, decisions will be made on the way forward.
It was reminded that the current allegations are being handled independently through entities separate of the Executive.
“As President, I have no choice but to stand behind the decisions of the institutions. The institutions are independent of the Executive. It’s not a matter of standing behind, it is a matter of respecting whatever outcome is there,” Ali uttered on the sidelines of an event at the Arthur Chung Conference Center.

After the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had completed its investigations last week, the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, for advice on whether charges should be laid.
The President has posited that the system should be allowed to work, and when that work is completed, decisions would be taken.
“I am very strong on people’s rights and women and children; there is no compromise with that. I made it very clear from the inception that there is a procedure that has to be followed, and we have to trust our system. That system has commenced with the investigation. I am not involved with that. The Minister proceeded on leave to allow that system to work. When the system completes its work, then subsequent decisions will be made,” the President has said.
Answering the query whether the Minister would be asked to resign if he is charged, the President indicated that he does not want to ‘assume anything’.
“I have always worked in the interest of this country and the people of this country…At that point, we will address that. As President, I have to deal fairly with what is before me. What is before me now is that the Minister proceeded on leave to allow that. Beyond that, decisions will have to be made, but I can’t assume what will be done,” he explained.
Since last week, Dharamlall proceeded on administrative leave to allow the sexual assault allegations to be investigated. The allegations, which first surfaced on social media and involved a 16-year-old child, have attracted the attention of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA).
The Police Force confirmed that an investigation was launched, and, in fact, the sitting Minister presented himself at the Brickdam Police Station in the company of his lawyer, where he was arrested and placed on $1,000,000 bail.

Dharamlall has retained the services of Hughes Fields & Stoby to represent him.  All the allegations have been denied, Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes has indicated.

Not intimidated
On Tuesday, as members of the Opposition political parties mounted protests in front of its office, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) issued a statement stating that it will not be intimidated.
“The DPP’s Office will not be intimidated by these individuals, who profess to want justice in a criminal matter even while a Police file is being given due legal attention.”

The statement from the DPP’s Office added that the Police file in question is only one of thousands of Police files which the DPP’s Office receives from all stations in all administrative regions of Guyana for legal attention.
“Files for persons in custody are given priority. We strongly urge the general public to desist from politicizing an alleged criminal offence. It is indeed one of national interest, and therefore all statements/evidence must be considered before legal advice is given to the Guyana Police Force,” the statement read.
The DPP’s Office concluded that it would continue to carry out its constitutional functions in an impartial manner. (G12)