Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill to be taken to parliament this year

 Blackmoore
Blackmoore says the notion that the govt is not committed to take the sexual offenses bill to parliament is displaced

The Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill will be taken to Parliament this year after the approval of the 2016/2017 budget, Minister for Justice, Immigration and National Security, Rayburn Blackmoore has announced.

“In light of the fact that we are currently in the budget cycle for 2016/2017, it makes sense therefore, for the bill to be taken to Parliament after the approval of this year’s budget,” Blackmoore said at a press conference on Friday. “Once that is done, the first Parliament after the passage of this year’s budget, the Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill will be taken to Parliament.”

He dispelled what he referred to as “the notion being brought forward by some” that there is a lack of commitment by the government to take the proposed draft sexual offenses bill to parliament as “significantly displaced.”

Following a staggering 135 reported cases of child sexual abuse in Dominica in 2014, Blackmoore stated, in January 2015, that the government would establish systems to better equip prosecutors to deal with the problem of sexual offenses on the island. Sexual offenses dominated the Criminal Assizes that year with a total of twenty-four cases in January, nine in April, and eight in September. Cases ranged from indecent assault to unlawful sexual intercourse to incest, rape, and buggery.

In October 2015, a special committee was appointed under the chairmanship of legal Consultant, Ray Harris, to look at the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act of 1998 and to make some recommendations for amendments.

In January 2016, Harris submitted a report to the minister with an Amendment Bill to the Sexual Offences Act.

On March 7, 2016, Attorney General, Levi Peter announced that a draft Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill, comprising 17 sections, would soon be taken to Parliament for approval.

In June 2016, Blackmoore announced that the draft Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill would go before Parliament before the end of the year. He called the amended Act a duty owed to youth, women, and other vulnerable groups.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, revealed that he had been doing numerous consultations on child sexual abuse, with “no less than 105 people.”

According to Blackmoore, the Sexual Offenses Amendment Bill takes high priority on the government’s legislative agenda for 2016 and because it “will stimulate serious debate and dialogue…….one day in my view, will not be enough for such a very important Bill to be debated.”

The NGO Coalition has been on the forefront pushing for legislation to protect minors and the vulnerable in Dominica.

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17 Comments

  1. FORKIT
    July 4, 2016

    where de old speaker on all of that

  2. Every two or three months the government gives a press release or some government person delivers a speech saying that changes to protect the children are about to be considered but nothing ever happens.

    What they do is push the time line ahead to buy for themselves time again, and again, and again. If the DNO comments indicate anything they show that the majority of Dominicans are not happy with this.

    There could be absolutely nothing on any agenda any more important that the wellbeing of the children and young people. The stats speak for themselves just as past DNO news articles show the rise in sexual child abuse and the failure of the justice system to keep pace.

    What your NGOs are asking for is reasonable and supported by the majority of Dominican tax payers and voters. Its what the people want.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

  3. UHURU
    July 4, 2016

    Blackmore and his cronies are just stumbling blocks in the way of the island’s progress !
    He has nothing of value between those two ears !

  4. July 4, 2016

    Any body found guilty of sexual offence on under age person must be locked up. It does not matter if they are members of the government or not lock them up . protect the minor and the under privileged in Dominica.

  5. Friday
    July 4, 2016

    We are waiting with baited breath…. 8-O :roll:

  6. NKRUMAH KWAME
    July 4, 2016

    We are waiting to see this done.
    HOTEP!

    • July 4, 2016

      Blackmoore why is it you and your Government is afraid of the subject of Sexual Offenses that is rampant in our Society why are you all dragging this Bill and why does your administration so disrespectful against the young people on the Island, it’s important they should be treatment respectfully and to stop the abuse . Government know exactly what they are doing stop trying to take us Dominicans as fools and do the job you suppose too.

  7. Doc. Love
    July 4, 2016

    Dominicans are very patience, understanding, and love their Government. It would appear the Government, one man, Skeritt, according to a popular talk show host does not love them. Every time the opposition talks about sexual child abuse amendment bill, they jump up, it will be in parliament soon. Every time, the NGO talks about it , membarguy. Because Mr. Linton was parading with his family in support of the amendment, last weak, a, a, Blackmoore, once again is singing the same calypso, different year. Does it have to take one of their close friends or a family’s child to be molested for them to take Dominicans seriously.

  8. on your deng
    July 4, 2016

    Why wasnt it during the last parliament?

  9. amindom
    July 4, 2016

    I don’t understand the wait. !!!!

    • Nobody does :!:

      And governments that lie to the people are short lived especially when the stakes are so high.

      Every case of sexual child abuse reported now by the media will be a nail in the government’s coffin.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

  10. Tj
    July 4, 2016

    Blackmore are you serious with your promises?

  11. Megso
    July 4, 2016

    Well Christmas ain’t reach yet !!!!

  12. Joseph
    July 4, 2016

    This government is so contradicting . Certain high profile people have been charged, although not yet convicted of some gross sexual conduct, yet these people have been allowed to continue to hug the limelight, becoming campaign managers, receiving Holy communion, blatantly parading themselves around the island, when they should be keeping a low profile and being remorseful.

    During the Soufriere by-election. certain senior ministers made inflammatory allegations about the sexuality about an opposition candidate whilst their sexual predators were lauded.

    How is any Sexual Offences Act going to help the defenceless and vulnerable children of Dominica, when the people who are there to protect them , damage and violate them?

    Dominica is no longer a democracy and therefore this amendment will only be enforced against those the regime would like to continue to crush.

  13. Fed up
    July 4, 2016

    Decriminalise buggery. Until this is done gays will be treated as criminals and second class citizens in their own country. We respect gays when we live in the US, the UK and other civilised countries. Respect our own. P.M. Skerrit and Opposition Leader Linton, be real men, be leaders like Obama, stop political expediency and be leaders of all the people, minority alike. Homosexuality is entrenched as a normal part of life in our society but is stiffled with lies, pretense and hypocrisy because of our small mindedness. We cannot tell people who to love.
    Gay supporters and senior members of the DLP and the UWP, demand your human rights!!

    • ”… demand your human rights!!” :?: :?: :?:

      What ”right” does any human have to ignore the Word of God and violate HIS command :?:

      Buggery is not a human right. It is an ”abomination” according to Leviticus 18:22.

      I call your attention to Romans 1:26,27, 1 Corinthians 6:9,10, 1 Timothy 1:9,10. Also read Genesis 19:1-15 with 2 Peter 2:4-6, with Jude vs.7.

      ”To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20)

      Also we must obey the laws handed down by human governments unless they contradict the laws of God in the Bible because God has delegated to human governments the authority to rule over us according to Romans 13:1-7.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

      • UHURU
        July 5, 2016

        It’s amazing how you put so much trust in a book which was written by men who claim to have been inspired by another being !
        I also need you to explain why a good, all loving and powerful god would willfully and knowingly allow the so called devil to survive creation, knowing fully well the calamity he was destined to bring upon this planet?

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