We write to make a first response to what has been reported so far in the case of Dr Vishwamintra Persaud.
1. The new sexual offences legislation provides for a sex offenders register. If, as reported, Dr Persaud has admitted that he committed a crime against a child (admitted it in the US if not here), then perhaps he should be the first entry in the register.
2. The legislation also says that a person who commits a sexual crime against a child can’t be employed where’s he/she is likely to be in touch with children. It does not say that the person has to commit the offence against more than one child. Nor does it say that the person’s skills and competence are to be weighed against his/her criminal conduct. The implication of that would be to accept in law what is already true in reality – that the less skilled (and the poorer and the less well-connected) a criminal the harsher his/her penalty should be.
We will wait to see what more is said and done and by whom before commenting further, but if the new legislation is not enforced against Dr Persaud there can be no moral basis for enforcing it against anyone.
Yours faithfully,
Andaiye
Karen de Souza
Red Thread
