President Dr Irfaan Ali has directed that the proposed Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026 be referred to a Parliamentary Select Committee for further examination, following widespread public debate about provisions to establish a non-public National Sex Offender Database.
On Wednesday, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo announced that both the President and the Cabinet firmly support the creation of a publicly accessible sex offender registry.
“President Dr Irfaan Ali has instructed that the Bill be sent to a Select Committee for detailed review. He has also made it clear that his position, as well as that of the Cabinet, is that any sex-offender register established in Guyana should be open to the public,” Jagdeo stated, adding that he fully supports that position.
The move follows mounting criticism from citizens, advocacy groups, and social media users who objected to provisions in the proposed legislation that would have restricted public access to information on convicted sex offenders. Concerns were also raised about penalties for unauthorised disclosure of information in the database.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Human Services defended the proposal for a closed registry, explaining that extensive consultations across the country had overwhelmingly favoured it. Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud reiterated that the draft legislation reflected the recommendations from those engagements.
However, in light of the President’s intervention and the growing public discourse, Minister Persaud confirmed that the legislation will undergo further scrutiny at the Select Committee level.
“The President, the Cabinet and I believe the register should be open to the public. As the subject Minister, I intend to support sending the Bill to the Select Committee so that members can examine it further and contribute additional perspectives,” Persaud stated.
The Parliamentary Select Committee comprises members of the government and opposition, providing a forum for bipartisan review of proposed legislation before it is returned to the National Assembly.
The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026 seeks to strengthen Guyana’s legal framework for sexual offences and to establish a National Sex Offender Database. The database would contain information on persons convicted of sexual offences under the law, including Guyanese convicted both locally and overseas since May 2010.
Under the current draft, responsibility for establishing and maintaining the database would rest with the Commissioner of Police, subject to the Minister of Home Affairs’ approval. The Police Force would be responsible for ensuring the accuracy, security and integrity of all information in the system.
One of the Bill’s most controversial provisions imposes penalties on individuals who unlawfully disclose information from the database. Offenders could face fines, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
The proposed legislation also sets out a process for submitting written requests for information from the database to the Commissioner of Police and the Home Affairs Minister, with the reasons for access stated. The Director of Public Prosecutions would be exempt from this requirement.
Additionally, organisations and institutions that work with children or vulnerable adults would be eligible to receive information on specific offenders listed in the database.
Beyond establishing a registry, the Bill also introduces amendments to existing laws governing the publication and handling of information about individuals accused of sexual offences.