Almost two weeks since reports first surfaced of the sex assault allegations made against the Minister of Local Government by a 16-year-old girl, the President Irfaan Ali today offered no clear indication on the actions to be taken by his government against the Minister if he is criminally charged.

The Guyana Police Force concluded its investigations last Thursday and dispatched the investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

There have been calls for the Government Minister to completely step down from office or for him to be removed.

Speaking to reporters today on the issue, President Ali said he has to be fair in the matter.

“At that point, we will address that…As President, I have to deal fairly with what is before me. What is before me now, the Minister proceeded on leave to allow that. Now, beyond that, decisions will have to be made but I cannot assume what will be done,” the Head of State said.

Given the gravity of the allegations against him, the Opposition together with a number of civil society organizations have been calling for Dharamlall to be removed from public office. But President Ali said, while he does not compromise on the rights of people, in particular women and children, there is a procedure that has to be followed. 

“I made it very clear from the inception that there is a procedure that has to follow, and we have to trust our system. Now, that system has commenced its work with the investigation. I am not involved in that. The minister proceeded on leave to allow that system to work. When the system completes its work then subsequent decisions will be made,” he said.

According to the President, he has always worked in the interest of the country, and its people. He said decisions taken by the Guyana Police Force and by extension the DPP will be respected. According to him, as President, he has no other choice but to respect the decisions of the institutions treating with the allegation.

“As President, I have no other choice but to stand behind the decisions of institutions…It’s separate, it’s independent. It is like the judiciary, it’s the police, it’s the DPP. It’s independent of the Executive. So, it is not a matter of standing behind, it is a matter of respecting whatever outcome is there,” the President said.

He said the institutions must be trusted. 

The Police Force, in the early stages of its investigation placed the embattled minister on station bail. The advice of the DPP will determine whether he will face criminal charges.

Meanwhile, the teenager who made the allegations, remains in protective care. (Svetlana Marshall)

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