The Women For Change (WFC), one of the arms of the Alliance For Change (AFC) says it will bring allegations levelled against a Government Minister to the attention of international agencies.
The Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall is being lambasted after screengrabs of a conversation he purportedly had with an overseas-based Guyanese woman began appearing on social media.
The screengrabs accompany a post allegedly made by a woman (name withheld), who claimed that she stumbled upon inappropriate conversations on a popular social media messaging app between her daughter and the minister.
The Opposition has since called for an investigation into the matter. Guyana Standard understands that the WFC wrote an “open letter” to the President requesting a probe but to no avail.
“Sadly, the President seems not inclined to carry out his duty and has passed the proverbial ‘buck’ to the Guyana Police Force. We remind His Excellency that Nigel Dharamlall is a member of his Cabinet, a sitting Member of the National Assembly and a representative of his Administration,” the WFC said.
It went on to note its “strong view” that allegations against Dharamlall warrant a thorough investigation by his superior officer, in this case, the President as these allegations have brought the Ali Administration into “disrepute”.
The WFC reminded the President of Guyana’s obligations under the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women to which Guyana is a signatory, that “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to suppress all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of the prostitution of women.”
“Given the reluctance of the President, WFC will now write the Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to apprise them of the situation. WFC will also raise Dharamlall’s call for two of Guyana’s senior and highly respected women judges to be ‘de-frocked’. WFC also intends to bring the allegations against Dharamlall to the attention of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. WFC will not rest until these allegations and the conduct of Dharamlall are fully and impartially investigated,” the body said.
Meanwhile, the WFC said it will reach out to the woman and her daughter to offer encouragement and support while calling on the women of Guyana to raise their voices against any and all forms of discrimination and exploitation of women.
