Women’s Rights organisation, Red Thread is calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances that resulted in a 16-year-old girl issuing a “no further action’ statement to the police, after initially accusing the now former Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall of rape and sodomy.

The disgraced Minister tendered his resignation on Tuesday, according to the President.

But less than 24 hours after that resignation, the Red Thread staged a picketing exercise demanding that all who may have been involved, be held accountable.

University of Toronto Professor, and Red Thread Representative, Dr Alissa Trotz told News Source on Wednesday that there needs to be a thorough investigation into the entire process, and the conduct of the Guyana Police Force, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), in responding to the allegations leveled against Mr. Dharamlall by the 16-year-old school girl.

 “I think we need to join all Guyanese in demanding an independent impartial investigation, regardless of what race you are, regardless of your age, regardless of your gender, regardless of your political affiliation, there should be a full investigation, and we should put on alert all of those people in positions of power, sitting ministers of government, members of the government, members of the opposition, every single one of them, all should be put on notice that, that there can be no one law for the powerful, and another one for the powerless,” Dr Trotz said.

As she stood on the picket line in front of the Stabroek Market, Dr Trotz said many Guyanese are appalled at the actions of the authorities.

“I think what has really appalled people and what has led Red Thread to come out here today is that, throughout this entire process, people have been forced to ask why is the victim, the survivor, the complainant, an indigenous young woman, a teenager, who just sat her high school exams, why is she being treated like a criminal,” Dr Trotz said.

Turning her attention to President Ali, she said the approach taken by the President is unacceptable.

“A lot of Guyanese are really disappointed with the public statements by the President, President Irfaan Ali, in the first instant, accepting Dharamlall, I refuse to call him Minister, Dharamlall’s request to go on administrative leave, which as far as I understand it, means, that you go on leave with full salary. He should not have offered to go leave, as if he was doing the people of Guyana a favor, he should have been made to go on leave. He should have been made to resign,” she reasoned.

The activist said in announcing the resignation of the disgraced Minister, President Ali failed to address the challenges faced by the alleged victim, and appeared only to be concerned about the welfare of the accused.

“Everyone who woke up this morning, and read President Ali’s statement, so many of us are asking, where is the child in this statement. The statement is entirely about Minister Dharamlall, it is entirely about Minister Dharamlall submitting his resignation, it is about Minister Dharamlall talking about how he was personally affected, there is no mention anywhere, in any of the news reports that we have seen, from President Ali’s statement about a child, about an indigenous teenager, this child matters, and we should not forget her,” Dr Trotz said.

Red Thread Representative, Joy Marcus was also among the women on the picket line today. Marcus told News Source that the Minister’s resignation does not erase the allegation.

“What justice are we getting from that? Does it mean that if you are in office, you can do whatever you want and just step down? Is that right? That is not right, that is not no justice for that child. We need justice for that child, and many other young people who are facing rape and sexual assault,” Marcus said.

Red Thread said it remains in solidarity with the alleged victim, and will continue to demand justice, and independent investigation into the handling of the case by the authorities.

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