The Guyana Human Rights Association has become the latest organisation to condemn the remarks that were made by the Minister of Local Government Nigel Dharamlall in the National Assembly last week, which were directed to an Opposition female Member of Parliament.

During the national budget considerations and while at the microphone, the Government Minister told the Opposition MP that she needs a “dildo”.

In a statement this morning, the Human Rights Association said the “sexual insult” used by the Government Minister should be seen as a watershed moment rather than treated as the routine ‘rough and tumble’ of Parliament. 

According to the GHRA, the incident constitutes sexual harassment of both the MP in question and indirectly of all female MPs who have to sit and listen to exchanges which would not be tolerated even in a well-run public bar.

“Such behaviour also undermines the longer-term goal of a Parliament composed equally of males and females”, the statement said.

While Dharamlall offered an apology while claiming that his remarks were not directed at any female MP, the Human Rights group said it also speaks volumes about the status of women in Guyana when other MPs have not called for Mr. Dharamlall to be seriously disciplined and dismissed from Parliament.

“While Mr. Dharamlall should be made accountable, the shame should be shared by those tolerating such behavior under the guise of parliamentary ‘rough and tumble’. This is not only an issue of an individual’s rancour, it is now a rancid parliamentary culture, aggravating already dangerously adversarial territory”, the statement said.

The Association also called out the Speaker of the National Assembly for not addressing the issue. The GHRA said while it was correct for Opposition MP Sherod Duncan to be suspended for his loud interruption of the House in defence of his fellow MP, the Speaker is yet to find fault with Minister Dharamlall and his statements.

This past weekend, women’s rights group, Help and Shelter and political party, A New and United Guyana both called for Dharamlall to be removed from his position as a Government Minister and MP over the remark.

The Government has been silent on the issue.

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