By Svetlana Marshall

Months after an indigenous delegation called on the Government to investigate “growing” allegations of rape, sexual abuse and misconduct in Amerindian Villages, the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai has reported that such reports are “very minimal.”

Last April, Mark Anthony Rodrigues, who headed the Indigenous Delegation that covered communities in Regions 2, 6 and 9, told reporters that violence perpetrated against Indigenous women and children was becoming a norm, and in most instances, it was allowed to go unnoticed by those in authority. 

However, when questioned on the issue yesterday, the Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, said such reports are very minimal. She said she has never received such reports in her official or personal capacity.

“In every report that I conclude a visit, domestic violence, sexual abuse, incest and criminal activities have not been reported. And, I am there as a Minister myself,” Minister Sukhai said.

She said as the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, she has visited almost all of the Amerindian communities, and has hosted one on one sessions and public meetings, and such reports were never received.

“I have not encountered any of those reports. I am not saying it doesn’t exist but I have not encountered those reports. Maybe, they don’t feel that I am the right location for the issue,” the Amerindian Affairs Minister said. 

According to the Minister, reports of rape, domestic violence, and misconduct may have been reported to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security or the police and not the Amerindian Affairs Ministry. 

She however admitted that the Welfare Department of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry has received reports of teenage pregnancy cases, which encompass rape, and in those cases, the Department would collaborate with the Human Services Ministry to provide the necessary support. 

During their visit to the city last April, the Indigenous Delegation said investigations into sexual misconduct cases that were allegedly committed in the confines of Amerindian Villages have been hampered due to political interference in many instances.

But the Amerindian Affairs Minister said she simply doesn’t know about that.

“I don’t know who there are speaking about. So, I would not venture to make a comment. They should be able to disclose who are those people in high offices and they should make the report. If they have the facts and the evidence. It is something I don’t know of, and I don’t know who those people in high officers are,” she said. 

According to the Minister, the delegation has manipulated the issue and has come forward with allegations with no evidence of the reports being filed with the police or even evidence of the alleged crime being committed. 

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