-as bill heading to select committee
Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has thrown his support behind making Guyana’s proposed sex offenders registry public, endorsing a position already articulated by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the cabinet.
In a statement shared via social media on Wednesday, the former president and current vice president said he strongly supports the government’s view that any register of convicted sex offenders should be accessible to the public.
“President Dr Irfaan Ali has instructed that the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, presented in the National Assembly on June 5, 2026, be sent to a select committee. He has also indicated that it is his view, and that of the cabinet, that any register of sex offenders must be public. I strongly share this view,” the VP stated.
The remarks come amid growing national discussion surrounding the proposed amendments to Guyana’s sexual offences legislation and the establishment of a sex offenders registry.
President Ali earlier announced that the bill would be referred to a special select committee to allow for wider consultation and examination of its provisions before it returns to the National Assembly.
The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen mechanisms for monitoring convicted sex offenders and enhancing protections for vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.
The government has consistently maintained a strong stance against sexual violence and abuse, introducing a range of measures in recent years to improve the reporting, investigation and prosecution of sexual offences while expanding support services for survivors.