Human Services and Social Security Minister Priya Manickchand
Human Services and Social Security Minister Priya Manickchand has lauded as an ‘incredible’ step towards justice the first paper committal to accelerate a rape case. She expressed hope that the new sexual offences law would pave the way for speedier trials, without the victim or defendant having to wait years before justice is served.
The minister said the presence of the paper committal would instill confidence in the judicial system and embolden rape victims to come forward and report their cases without being fearful.
In an interview with this newspaper, Minister Manickchand noted her satisfaction with the first prima facie case being made out against a rape suspect, and fact that the matter has proceeded to the High Court just under twelve months after the law was passed.
The process the court has now adopted will save time for the system and all involved in dealing with certain cases, she said. “Previously, the preliminary inquiry into a rape case would have forced the victim to actually relive the fear and trauma of such an event before a case is made out against the accused. The victim wouldn’t have to go through cross-examination with the paper committal.”
She added that this process does not only benefit the rape victim, but also the accused, who would want to be cleared of the charges in a timely manner. “The paper committal is evidence of work coming to fruition… I now feel vindicated that we are seeing the fruit of our labour.”
This first paper committal was completed before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry recently at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The proceedings of this case were completed in a record two sittings, which were held over an eight-day period, at the end of which Dharampaul, also known as Ramesh, 50, was committed to stand trial in the High Court. He is accused of carnal knowledge allegedly committed on a nine-year-old girl.
According to police records, up until October 2010, there were 56 reports of rape, compared to 63 in 2009. This is a significant decrease of 11 per cent with an 18 per cent clear up rate of the 56 cases.
For January 2011 alone, there have been reports of at least ten cases of rape, most of which were perpetrated against minors. And in one case, a rape is alleged to have been committed by a serving policeman.
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