Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand yesterday hailed the first paper committal completed last week in relation to a sex offence case in the court.
“I think that is a historic moment for Guyana as it relates to sex offences,” she told reporters. The minister commended acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, the defence counsel as well as the police prosecutor “for not only making history in Guyana by doing this but for having played their part in supporting women and children.”
This is what the Stamp It Out campaign and the sexual offences laws are aimed at, she said.
The Criminal Law (Procedure) (Amendment) Act, which is the paper committal law, vests in magistrates the power to commit accused persons to stand trial in the High Court if a prima facie case is made out based on statements, documents and other articles tendered to the court, in the absence of a witness. The law was passed over two years ago.
Manickchand noted that with the preliminary inquiries, the cases take a long time to be completed and the complainants live with the incident hanging over their head constantly. “That was the whole intention of the paper committal, to address these matters speedily,” she said.
The Minister noted that the defendants, who proclaim that they are innocent, also benefit from the paper committals since they would want the charges disproved quickly. “It is all our work coming to fruition,” she said.
Manickchand asked other courts to emulate what had occurred in the acting Chief Magistrate’s court. “I think this is a truly historic moment for us that we should record with pride,” said Manickchand.
