SVG Parliament passes Bill, strengthens penalties for sexual offences

Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines: The SVG Parliament has passed a bill to increase the severity of the penalties for the individuals under Chapter 171 of the Criminal Code, who attempt to commit sexual offences in the country. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said that the move was important to combat the problem of sexual crimes in the nation. The decision was made following the demands of the general people, including right-thinking persons, who sought to revise these punishments.

SVG Parliament did not amend the sentences for those five crimes in Chapter 8 of the Criminal Code. Noting this, various other sections from 122 to 148 were included in Chapter Eight.

The Prime Minister has given a detailed description of the changes, amended in the sentence such as,

1. The rape penalty under Section 123 remains the same as it already carries a sentence of life imprisonment.
2. To have sexual relations with females under the age of 13 is strictly prohibited and punishable with life imprisonment under Section 124.
3. The last three have not been addressed yet, which included buggery and indecent practices between the members of the same gender.

Furthermore, the person who will have sexual intercourse with a girl under 15 years of age is now sentenced to 15 years in jail.

The new bill of the legislation was directed by PM Gonsalves, who is also serving as a Minister of National Security. The Criminal Code Chapter 171 of the Laws of St Vincent and the Grenadines was revised during the sitting of Parliament on Thursday.

Indecent assault of any child, who is under 15-year-age is now responsible for a 10-year penalty. Initially, the sentence was fixed to five years. Now it has increased to five more years.

PM Gonsalves further highlighted that there are some sexual offences, whose sentence has not been changed which included rape and intercourse with a child under 13-year age. The maximum punishment for such cases is already life imprisonment.

The authorities are revising the other related laws such as buggery, which is yet to be amended.

The Minister of National Mobilization, Orando Brewster presented the data of the Child Development Division and revealed they have reported a slight increase in the cases of child abuse in 2023.

A total of around 241 cases have been registered of child abuse in St Vincent and the Grenadines.