Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said his government will be seeking to make amendments to the Sexual Offences Act with a view to ensuring those who attempt to pervert the course of justice are dealt with.
However, he said, the society, family members and all concerned have to assist and play a much more meaningful role to safeguard and protect minors.
There have been a spate of sexual offences now before the high court and the Judge Errol Thomas has called on society to “speak out and find ways of helping the situation.”
There was also outrage recently when a man was sentenced to eight years behind bars for sexually molesting three minors.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Skerrit said “the issue of sexual offences against minors is a major concern.”
“Whether is one, two or 15 children and any such, it should be condemned by our people,” he said. “We must also hold he who has caused the crime responsible and must not tell those who have committed such crimes against our minors that it is not your fault. The law is very strong on the sentencing of such crimes…25 years.”
He explained that he is aware of situations where sexual matters are before the court but the child refuses to speak because there are some arrangements between the family of the accused and the victim’s family.
“Then when the case is thrown out for want of prosecution, you see the family of the victim and the accused go in the same vehicle smiling away. Then who is to be blamed?” Skerrit asked.
He added, “Most of these cases are caused by a relative at the home of a friend, a relative an associate an acquaintance and they know of people who are doing the crimes. The mother, grandmother, uncle and neighbour know and will not come and give evidence. It is caused by relatives at the home of friend’s family and associates. The mother knows and all of them are aware and say nothing.”
He added that the police and the Director of Public Prosecution are frustrated.
“And then you have a destroyed person for life because the parents did not testify. We as individuals have to take our responsibilities but a law in itself is not going to be the solution, it takes a country including the media, clergy and all of us in society,” he said. “We can’t allow the vagabonds perpetrating these crimes against our minors to be good citizens but we have to act as a society together to deal with it.”
He continued, “What we have been discussing presently, is that we have some amendments to make to the law and that is once a case is brought to the attention of the police, it cannot be withdrawn even if the victim does not want to cooperate, the law will deal with that. Also, we intend in putting a minimum and a maximum amount of years…say minimum 10 years and maximum 25 years and it will be left to the discretion of the court.”
He also revealed that the Minister of Justice Rayburn Blackmoore will be meeting with some interest group next week in order to chart the best way forward on the matter.
in addition to 25 years these people should be registered sex offenders. They should register with authorities and a public website about their where-about. No mercy for these wicket people.
If there is evidence that some these parents have knowledge of what is going on and refuse to testify on behalf of the victims, they to should be held accountable and arrested.
I have personally known of mothers who knew a daughter was being sexually molested and said nothing.
A daughter was being raped by her father (the woman’s husband). I have also heard of women whose daughters were being raped by the mothers’ live in boy friends and went unreported.
Obviously this is because the men were giving them money and/or paying the bills. For all practical intents and purposes the women were pimping their daughters. These mothers were making themselves a party to the crime. They should be in jail.
There must first be a law that requires anybody who knows a child is being molested to report it immediately. There should be a severe penalty for not doing so. Without such a law mothers (and others with something to lose) will continue to not report offences. Innocent children will suffer. Lives will continue to be destroyed.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
i hope the act will allow people in high positions to be arrested too. so for example if a person accuses let us say a minister or a bunch of minsters for attempted rape or rape that the minister gets arrested!
There can be no exceptions to a law, especially a law this serious.
Partiality has no place in true justice.
If you know of a minister who is guilty make sure he (she) is reported even if you have to do it yourself.
If the authorities show respect of persons and refuse to touch the case talk to the editor of your best newspaper.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
the expression SUPREME LEADER has no place in our Country.it is extreme and cultish
Mr Prime Minister, Dominica has an Attorney General and a Director of Public Prosecution. In the future could you instead direct them to make these statements. You want to be seen as “Jack of all Trade” in your Government but you are in fact “Master of None”! Allow the legal minds the space to deal with this publicly. Your views are not very professionally presented or represented on this matter!
No need to attack the P.M.
You need him on board with you.
If the Attorney General or the Director of Public Prosecution had something to say would they not have said it? Do you think DNO would not have published it?
On the other hand if Mr. Skerrit feels strongly about the issue should he not express himself?
Is this problem not serious enough to merit a word from the top?
I suspect the citizens are waiting now to see if Mr. Skerrit will indeed make the said amendments. If he does make amendments will they even be implemented?
Most commentators (maybe all) on DNO agree that radical changes are needed in the laws relating to sexual offences and the way they are enforced. If the Prime Minister is able to initiate change and turn things around history will honor him as a statesman instead of remembering him as just another politician.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
always seeking but you never finding it done
This is the action of responsible and right-minded governance. For sure, our precious Supreme Leader and his staff are not asleep on the job! These men and woman are surely the right choice for Dominica. God bless Labour!
They are jokers…killing the country and people laughing at us…
Incompetent Labour Government. Worst Dominica has seen
DNO I have daughters and I wish I hadn’t seen this photo. It saddens and enrages me as I inevitably visualize my daughters being in the situation depicted. Even if it is just a photo It hurts
Mr. P.M. there should be no minimums. It must be a MANDATORY 25 yrs. Let’s not give our Honourable judges any problems. Just make it mandatory so that no judge has to explain his or her actions to the public where this type of cases are concerned. Those parents who take bribes and gifts from the perpetrators in exchange for their sons / daughters innocence should face a MANDAORY 15 years behind bars as well. If you can sell your child’s innocence for a flat screen tv, what would you do to my child? Is a flat screen tv of equal value to your child’s innocence? Mr. Blackmore as Justice minister go for the highest possible sentence you can get. Our young children and Dominica will thank you for steeping up to protect the next generation. Protect their lives, Protect their dreams.
What about the sexual offendors list? This is important too. These names should be on a single record for all to see. They should be mandated to notify every police station in a community they move to. And this should be communicated to the residents and the list updated.
I support you 100%. That should be in addition to the mandatory 25 yrs behind bars. Please Mr. Blackmore do not hide those animals faces or names. Let the media (all) publish their names, mugshots and village/town of birth and current residence for the nation to see. No more protection for them.
A “sexual offenders list” (or a sex crimes registry) would be a great weapon.
(1) It would be especially helpful to parents to find if a sex offender is living in their neighborhood.
(2) It would be of use to potential landlords before they rent to a stranger.
(3) It would be helpful to potential employers.
I am not saying a convicted abuser should never be hired. But they should not be hired to work with or around children.
We have known of cases where a convicted school teacher after his release has moved to another nation and got back into a teaching job. Some have ended up teaching in schools in Central or South America, or in Asia where the children are less protected.
(4) Customs officers should have access to a sex offenders registry online everywhere in the world. Also when somebody is convicted their passport should be revoked. They should be red flagged in all government records online.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Dear Mr. PM
Don’t “seek” to amend the Act; just amend it – plain and simple
Thank You
True! They should be castrated as well. However humans mind are so warped anything is possible.
People want the P.M. to …
Add some laws like a law that requires mandatory reporting …
Revise some laws like raising the age of consent …
See that these laws are enforced
Establish a Sex Offenders Registry …
Overhaul the sentences for sexual child abuse to make the punishment fit the crime and deter others who have he same vile inclinations…
What they are saying is JUST DO IT
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.