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OPPOSITION Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial is urging the discreet use of the National Sex Offenders Registry plus a cultural change as ways to curb sexual violence against women.
Newsday sought her views in the wake of the murder of 18-year-old Ashanti Riley last Saturday and the abduction of a seemingly drugged 14-year-old girl in Arima, which was videoed by concerned onlookers.
Lutchmedial said the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament had fully supported the 2019 amendments to the Sexual Offences Act to introduce the National Sex Offender Register, to be run by the police, with highly restricted public access.
She said, “However, this is not a public register like those which exist in the US and other countries, where the average person on the Priority Bus Route can check if someone is a registered offender, or see who are the offenders living in their area.”
Lutchmedial said limits on the register regarding access to viewing plus non-retroactivity were put in place after a special select committee of the Senate met with civil society groups.
“In small societies such as ours, publication of details such as those required by the act could have unintended consequences, such as victim identification and stigmatisation.”
Publication could also stymie efforts to rehabilitate offenders,by rendering them unemployable.
“The level of discrimination that they would face would likely make it impossible for them to reintegrate into society after release.”
She said that would not serve the interests of justice.
“The register therefore ought to be deployed by law enforcement in ways that would ensure registered offenders are not allowed to conduct certain types of activities. The obvious one that comes to mind is taxis, but this applies to other areas as well, such as teaching, coaching, youth clubs and so on for those convicted of crimes against children.”
Lutchmedial recalled the attempted murder last August of 18-year-old Venezuelan model Stefani Flores, who survived being stabbed by three assailants in a PH car.
“The tragic murder of Ashanti Riley and the brutal attack of Stefani Flores are just two of many cases that highlight the need for better regulation and enforcement of laws against working motor vehicles for hire.
“The PH-taxi phenomenon provides an easy-access mechanism for sexual predators, even though most drivers are just hard-working individuals who are trying to make a living.”
She said TT must look at the danger posed and find a way to balance the interests of those engaged in the activity and the safety of citizens, particularly women.
“However, I am of the view that apart from placing the burden on women to verify who are offenders, we have to also take steps to promote a culture shift and attack root causes of gender-based violence.”
Lutchmedial said emotionally and mentally wounded men attack women.
“We have to create avenues for them to seek help and normalise the concept of men processing emotions instead of resorting to violence.
“If we taught men how to cope with rejection, how to respect women and not view them as objects for sexual gratification and so on, we would certainly see a more long term impact and reduction in gender based violence.
“We can't keep telling women how to not get raped. It's time to start telling men to not commit rape.”
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