The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has commended the Guyana Police Force (GPF) following its quick response to the rape and sexual violence against a 20-year-old Amerindian young woman at the Raghoo Bar in Soesdyke last week.
Two people, including a disc jockey, have appeared in court in connection with the crime, and the matter has since been adjourned to August 18 for disclosure.
Police said that the young woman had reported the incident on July 18, saying that she had been drugged and raped. She said she was assaulted at the bar while bystanders watched and filmed rather than intervening.
Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, has condemned the attack in a statement, calling it “most reprehensible” and criticising the inaction of those who recorded the assault instead of helping.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also launched an urgent probe into what it described as a “matter of grave concern.” Officials warned that continued sharing of the video may further violate the victim’s privacy and interfere with the ongoing investigation.
The GPF said that several people have been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of the young woman and that the search is continuing for others.
In a statement, the GHRA is encouraging other government agencies with responsibilities for law, women and Amerindian matters to sustain a similarly energetic response.
“Indigenous females are, for cultural reasons, particularly vulnerable to being duped into abusive situations in coastal Guyana, but their vulnerability is not unique. Sexual violence against women and girl children is endemic in Guyana, requiring them to be constantly vigilant of their surroundings and whereabouts, which mini-bus to use, street to walk on, and clothes that might send a wrong message,” the GHRA said.
The human rights body said public reactions to the incident contrast sharply with the growing acceptance of sexually objectifying women routinely projected in the proliferation of strip clubs, trafficking of girls for prostitution and lewd posts on social media.
It said too often, immediate passionate indignation from ministers, the police, politicians and religious leaders eventually simmers down into more routine, evasive action.
The most shocking example of such behaviour was the mere removal from office of a government minister widely considered by public opinion to be responsible for the rape of a young indigenous woman. Alarmingly, his name recently appeared on the new electoral list of candidates of the ruling party. This kind of evasion is no longer acceptable,” The GHRA noted.
It is calling for the incident not to be treated as an isolated one but as the latest in a string of sexual crimes against women.
The GHRA also supports cancelling the licence and closure of the Raghoo Bar, where the incident allegedly occurred.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Jul 22, CMC
CMC/gt/ir/2025
