Minister for Justice, Immigration and National Security, Rayburn Blackmoore, says the time for talk is over and amendments to the country’s Sexual Offences Act are coming.
He said on Wednesday that a special committee has been put in place for reforming Dominica’s laws and it will be looking at various recommendations on the Act.
“As I have said time and time again, prevention is better than cure…” he stated. “And in that regard, as with whole reference the whole issue of reforming our laws, I want to let you know that we have put in place a special committee that is being chaired by our legal advisor Mr Harris to look at the various recommendations for the expressed purpose of amending the Sexual Offences Act to ensure that proper protection is provided to the most vulnerable in our midst – our children and young people.”
He added, “The time for talk is over.”
The Minister also expressed his “profound admiration and gratitude” to all advocates and “to let you know that we will continue to ensure that what needs to be done in terms of reform will be done in that regard.”
The National Security Minister noted that the most fundamental function of any government is the safety and protection of its people and human and social development hinges on the security of any country, with Dominica being no exception.
He stated that as a consequence, the Government has decided to continue to place emphasis on striving for lower crime rates and a heighten the sense of security among residents and visitors alike, introduce more effective community policing programs through which meaningful alliances can be forged between the police and the communities to engender an environment for maintaining law and order, increase probation services and put in place community service sentencing for a certain category of offences and crimes, continue to improve the state’s prison, and to place emphasis on rehabilitation and correction and ensuring that notwithstanding the fact that they are inmates, but they are treated with a degree of humanity.
Additionally, he said, the construction of a new facility to reach out to young offenders as early as possible and to construct a drug rehabilitation centre and reviewing and reforming the country’s laws.
“Clearly, my dear friends, you can see that your government is committed to developing a holistic and multi-sectoral approach to citizens’ security. This will continue to include national mechanisms to facilitate the work of the police, facilitating evidence-based interventions and modernizing our criminal justice system,” Blackmore remarked.
He said at a recent meeting last week with the general membership of the police force, he called on all ranks to embrace the fundamental principles and virtues on which the police force has been built on- to serve and to protect.
He remarked that law enforcement officials serve and protect by wearing their uniform and patrolling the streets, responding to reports and complaints promptly, and to investigating reports with the highest degree of commitment and diligence.
“Those words were true last week and they still remain much more relevant today,” Blackmore said.
He was speaking at the start of a one-day dialogue on “Sustainable Human Development and the Citizen Security Agenda: Defining Priority Actions in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean” at the Fort Young Hotel conference room
The dialogue will focus on, in the first session, citizen security and sustainable human development. Session two will concentrate on the characteristics and the perceptions of crime and violence in Dominica; session three, drivers and contributing factors of crime and violence; session five, towards a citizen security framework in Dominica and session six, action planning and next steps.
It will be great to see this materialize.
People who live in Dominica and friends of ours who visit the island would like to see:
(1) A law making it mandatory to report every known case of sexual child abuse.
(2) An on-line registry of all convicted sexual child molesters.
(3) A mandatory treatment program for all sexual child molesters conducted by mental health professionals and overseen by a social worker who would report to the court.
(4) A definite plan in place to see that every child victim receives professional counseling with appropriate follow up with a view to providing emotional healing, and avoiding problems later in life.
(5) A program in the schools to proof the children against improper touching, looking, picture taking, etc. and to teach them how to avoid or escape situations, and how to report an incident.
(6) Every school should have a qualified adult a child can talk to if they have a problem, and the kids should KNOW who it is…
Continuation …
(7) A review of the length of time between the offence and the trial. People move away, witnesses forget, stories get distorted, and testimonies can be compromised.
(8) A review of the length of sentences that includes consideration of the harm done to the young victim.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Here is Canada at this time of the year there is a commercial on T.V. to raise money for a charity
that asks …
“So it is Christmas,
”
And what have you done
People are asking Mr. Blackmoore
“The Sexual Offences Act is back in the news again,
And what have you done?”
The people have asked that some existing laws be revisited and revised.
They have also suggested a few new things be introduced and implemented such as:
A law requiring the immediate reporting of any incident of sexual child abuse.
An online registry for convicted sexual abusers.
Professional counselling for victims of sexual child abuse under the supervision of a social worker who reports to the judge.
A program of professional therapy for convicted sexual perpetrators.
“So what have you done?”
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist. (Pastoral Counselor Certificate)
Convicted Sex Offenders – Dominica
Jan 2010 Robert Ross Bellot 52, victim 8 yo girl , sentenced 10 yrs prison.
Jan 2010 Francis Warrington, sentence 3 years prison.
Feb 2010 Gregory Augustine 43, victim 15 yo girl, sentenced 3years 6mnths (prison + community service).
May 2010 Andrew Valmond 43, victim 13 yo girl, sentence 8 years prison.
June 2010 Joey Tavernier 29, victim 12 yo girl, sentence 5 years prison.
June 2010 Geshard Lestrade 23, victim 15 yo girl, sentenced 4 years prison.
March 2013 Webster Edmond of Layou, victim 15yo, sentenced 8 yrs 9mnths prison.
March 2014 Anselm ‘Jackie’ Drigo 48, of Canefield, victim 13yo, sentenced 9 years prison.
April 2015 Fagan Jno Hope, victim 9yo girl, sentence 35 years prison.
Convicted Sex Offenders – Dominica continued…
May 2015 Clife Elijah Charles 36 years, three victims 6,7,8 yo, sentence 8 years prison.
May 2015 Sean Pinard 36, of Roseau, victim 15yrs 6mnths girl, sentence 3yrs 4months prison.
September 2015 Richardson Fontaine 52, of Dos Dane, victim 11 yo, sentenced 10 years prison.
October 2015 Nequesta Stedman of St. Joseph, victim 16yo, sentenced 18 months prison.
Nov 2015 Sullivan Marcelle of Dublanc, victim 9yrs 9 mnths, sentenced 3 years prison.
Nov 2015 Kalid Nanthan of Moore Park, victim 11yrs 6mnths, sentenced 15 years prison.
November 2015 Joseph Senhouse 42, of Penville, victim 8 yrs 4 mnths girl, will be sentenced on Dec 11.
Nov 2015 Marcus Samuel, victim 12 yo girl, sentence 2 years prison.
These appeared in the news. Others didn’t reach the news and sadly some matters were either never reported or after the perpetrator was charged, the victim or mother refused to give evidence.
20 Years in Govt and u cannot build an airport……
Blackmoore, as my dearly departed mom used to say, “Stop coming and come!”
Too much empty talk. Put actions behind your words.
Praise God. its about time! Make sure those punishments are much more severe
I am very much tired with all of the talking. Why are you guys still talking. I told you guys many years ago that the entire legislation with respect to sexual assault, the wording in the legislation is primitive and does not fit with the time. The world has changed drastically since that legislative was put in place. It needs to change. I offered to assist with guiding you guys in changing the legislation but at the time this was not a priority on your agenda. Now you back talking, years of talking.Please stop talking and act, the vulnerable people are suffering. Please change these ancient laws.
Now you talking Mr. Blackmore but who is going to Patrol the law enforcement officers who are themselves notorious abusers of under aged young girls and citizens alike? Lets start by disciplining our Law Enforcement team first.
where is the emergency meeting in parlarment for these children?
BlackMore, you and your cabal changed the law to carve out 15 acres of our Cabrits Park for foreigner.
Crime and violence? What about the firebombings of two innocent, elder citizens and a police officer investigating money-laundering?
What about reforming the Electoral Laws that people have been advocating for for Years. Bad elections that do not conform to the electoral Laws lead to more and more crimes and bad governance. Corruption leads to more crimes and violence.
Dominicans have been begging for Years to amend those Laws, re. abuse, electoral reform, instead that Cabal throw a new burden on Dominicans, with a new law re. asset management. Blackmore, you were there all the time.
Under your watch, although you were a former police officer, a top investigator of crime is posted to traffic? That is National Security?
LOL….the time for talk is over, yet Blackmoore is talking about how we should wait for some day, when some unknown people on a certain committee will review the law?
So all this time advocates were highlighting the insanely high numbers of abused children, hosting petitions, workshops, protests, etc. you guys didn’t figured it wasn’t yet time for action? All we got from the PM was that the law is strict enough as it is and that it was parents to blame.
So while this committee gets to work more children will continue to be assualted under your watch. Rather than put some much needed resources to identify children at risk, and educate those around them , hire or train more social workers, provide therapy and counseling to the hundreds that were already abused, you guys sit around with all this empty chatter while children’s lives are being destroyed!
Perhaps this needs to hit home for you guys to grasp the urgency of the situation!
IT is about time ,too much blabla >>
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haha
Time to take is over… well the Government should get out of here because all you guys do is talk talk talk and Lil action.
Why so late with the ammendment of the SOA?
Because there is a public outcry there comes Blackmore with the No more Talking speach. To his dear friends and comrades. ..
We new reform in all aspects
Nice striped suit. Looks like Wool – Seems to be very cold in Dominica, eh?
“Clearly, my dear friends, you can see that your government is committed to developing a holistic and multi-sectoral approach to citizens’ security.” You were SOUNDING borderline OK until that Party arrogant use of CLEARLY and YOU CAN SEE. On the contrary we the citizens are not clearly seeing that dedicated effort which you speak about in 15 years. So what really happened to the petition hand delivered by Mrs. Weekes to the PM in the presence of Nanthan!!! Did you not state sometime in the past that you never saw it. And to add insult, the utterance of …………time for talk is over!!!! ou pa fasil.
Mr. Blackmoore you the one doing all the talking. All I need to see is action and results. That is the only talk I am looking for. We need to say in one year we want to cut the abuse by half, and I don’t mean by not reporting but by enforcement of laws that already exist and citizens doing what need to be done in the meantime. New laws although very much welcomed especially in terms of increase penalties and sex offenders list, means nothing if not enforced or gets blocked and bogged in justice system. I need to see action.
More numerous the laws, more corrupt the state. No amount of legislation will stop child molestation in Dominica, it is a moral issue. People must take it upon themselves to do things on a moral level, and only way to accomplish this is to start with skerrit.
one might say it is cultural
In Privately,: watch your step!
It is refreshing and assuring to know that the blessed Dominica Labour Party Administration is working diligently behind the scenes to address and eradicate the scourge of child sexual and physical abuse in our society. As a productive and pro-active Government, this Administration has always delivered on its promises. Perpetrators of these heinous acts against our young boys and girls should now be aware that the full brunt of the law will be rained down upon them. The laws will be reinforced to make sure that anyone even thinking of committing such a crime will think twice. Furthermore, and maybe most importantly, the neglectful and evil parents who sell their young girls to older men for money or take bribes from pedophiles in exchange for silence your time is coming! Yes, even you parents who allow your young daughters to roam the streets at all hours of the night or leave your little ones with potential pedophiles so you can go out and have fun…jail time baby!
what about the report that was in the police station about a minister of the blessed labour party who had allegedly forced himself upon a young girl?
Better late than never, Mr. Blackmore.
HOTEP!
I hope so cause i have an unborn child and i want a good future for my baby.
Every generation is different. It gets more difficult to discipline children especially when they are unruly, will not listen and obey. Outside influence, even at school, also play a part.
The onus will be on you, the mother to be, after the baby is born and is able to understand, to discipline the child. Commence as early as possible.
According to the words of a calypso: “You’ve got to talk and talk and talk” and not constantly get angry, shout and punish the child. In each era parents need to take a parenting course and upgrade the skills they previously learned.
Do not forget to pray to God for help and guidance in nurturing the child. Be godly and an exemplary parent.
Sir., Who are the people on that committee? Laborites only?