Guyana set to introduce new Family Violence Bill in Parliament

The Government of Guyana has set its sights on the issue of Domestic Violence, as it prepares to table a new Family Violence Bill in the Parliament this year, to address issues that the currently applicable Domestic Violence Act fails to tackle.

Dr Vindhya Persaud, who happens to be the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, gave her thoughts on the significance of the Family Violence Bill, stating that work on the new legislation is complete and the proposed changes will help facilitate better policies for victims, with in the remit of the law and has been drafted in accordance with the suggestions of the civil society and other appropriate parties.

She also stated the following, “It is a bill that offers much in coverage whereas before the Domestic Violence Act dealt with more inter-personal violence. This gives wider coverage so if there is any kind of violence in the family, people will be able to have more recourse to the law.”

The legislation will also allow for punitive measures to be taken in such cases while simultaneously taking away discretionary powers from the police, thus forcing authorities to take action in a quick and decisive manner.

Dr Vindhya Persaud also stated the following, “There is not a discretion that will be used in terms of when they act, but once there is visible evidence of bodily harm they must take the report.”

She also clarified that the government is also looking to address general harassment, with a focus on harassment in places of work by introducing the Harassment Bill later this year.

The government is also pursuing the drafting of bills which focus on childcare and the protection of children, with a focus on child maintenance and the abduction of children, in accordance with the Hague Convention.

She added that, “We need real protection to be provided to these women, we need them to understand what the law does for them, we need them to understand what a protection order is, and we need the perpetrators also to understand what it means to flunk the protection order.”

An excellent step taken by the government is to publish the bills on the ministry’s official website so as to allow citizens to understand the implications of the bills and be well versed with them.