The Women and Gender Equality Commission has commended the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Guyana Police Force for their swift response to the alleged public rape of a young Amerindian woman, recently circulated on social media.
The incident occurred at Raghoo’s Bar, Soesdyke Junction, East Bank of Demerara.
The immediate closure of the bar, the arrest and charging of the disc jockey and an associate, and the issuance of an arrest warrant for the alleged perpetrator are the types of decisive actions the commission hopes to see in all such tragic cases.
In a statement, the commission also recommended that the bar owner’s licence be immediately revoked, stressing that bar operators have a responsibility to ensure patrons consume alcohol responsibly and to intervene when necessary.
Additionally, the commission noted that patrons present during the incident had both a moral and legal duty to report the crime rather than record it for entertainment. By choosing to film rather than act, they became accessories and should be held accountable.
The commission emphasised that society must protect its most vulnerable members, calling the act of recording and encouraging such a violation deeply disturbing.
It reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and restoring public confidence in the institutions tasked with protecting citizens.
