GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President Irfaan Ali Tuesday said no action would be taken against the embattled Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall until the independent investigation into the rape allegations against him is completed.
“As President, I have to deal fairly with what is before me. Before me, the minister proceeded on leave to allow that (investigation). Beyond that, decisions will have to be made, but I can’t assume what will be done,” he told reporters.
He said he would respect the decisions of the criminal justice system, adding, “It’s not a matter of standing; it’s a matter of respecting whatever outcome is there.
“I don’t want to assume any decisions now… let the system work, and at the end of the system’s job, then we will make decisions going forward,” he added.
Police had arrested the minister, who had since gone on leave to facilitate the probe, when he presented himself at the Brickdam Police Station in the company of his attorney, Nigel Hughes, last Monday night.
Dharamsala has been released on a one million dollar (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents) bail, and the 16-year-old child, who has been taken into protective custody by the State, has been assisting investigators.
Dharamsala, an executive member of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has publicly denied all accusations.
Police were up to Tuesday awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions based on the case file submitted last week.
The President, however, reiterated that he remained inflexible about abusers of women and children. “I am firm on people’s rights and women and children. There is no compromise on that,” he said.
Opponents A Partnership for National Unity, Working People’s Alliance, Alliance For Change, the Amerindian People’s Association, and Red Thread women’s organization have called for the minister to be fired or forced to resign.
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