Teixeira details year-long consultation involving over 100 organisations on Sexual Offences Amendment Bill
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, has pushed back against criticism surrounding the proposed Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill,…
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, has pushed back against criticism surrounding the proposed Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, saying the legislation underwent an extensive year-long consultation process involving government agencies, legal experts, civil society groups, faith-based organisations, Indigenous representatives and members of the public.
In a detailed statement issued on Friday, Teixeira said she felt compelled to address what she described as misinformation circulating on social media and elsewhere since the bill was tabled in the National Assembly for its first reading on June 5.
According to the minister, the amendments stem from a broader review of Guyana’s criminal justice system under the Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme, an initiative implemented by the Ministry of Legal Affairs with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
She explained that while Guyana’s Sexual Offences Act brought significant reforms when it was enacted in 2010 and amended in 2013, authorities determined that further updates were necessary to address emerging challenges, strengthen protections for victims and improve access to justice.
One of the most discussed proposals in the amendment bill is the creation of Guyana’s first National Sex Offender Database.
Teixeira said a legal gap analysis identified the need for such a database and examined how similar systems operate internationally.
She noted that while several countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom maintain sex offender registries, most restrict access to law enforcement agencies.
The minister said stakeholders consulted during the review process generally supported the establishment of a national database. However, concerns were raised about making the registry publicly accessible.
According to Teixeira, discussions at the stakeholder consultations resulted in recommendations for a closed registry, with information available through an application process rather than unrestricted public access.
She also referenced international studies which have raised concerns that open registries could conflict with privacy and human rights protections.
Teixeira said the review process began with consultations involving criminal justice professionals, including the Director of Public Prosecutions, state counsel, members of the criminal bar and magistrates.
The consultation later expanded to include government ministries whose work intersects with child protection, social services and victim support.
Among those invited to review and comment on the draft legislation were Education Minister Priya Manickchand and Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud.
The minister said the consultation process also included public engagement through traditional and social media platforms.
According to Teixeira, Attorney General Anil Nandlall publicly invited both the parliamentary opposition and members of the public to review the draft amendments and submit recommendations in May 2024.
She noted that no response was received from the then parliamentary opposition.
Several organisations and individuals, including Red Thread, the Indigenous Delegation Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Danuta Radzik, Vanda Radzik and Vidyaratha Kissoon, submitted comments and recommendations.
A major stakeholder forum was held on July 3, 2024, at Cara Lodge Hotel.
Teixeira said 103 agencies and organisations were invited, with 62 confirming attendance.
Participants included representatives from all ten administrative regions, government ministries, the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force, National Toshaos Council, constitutional commissions, trade unions, professional organisations, faith-based groups, NGOs, Indigenous organisations and representatives of the LGBTQI community.
The consultations also involved the Guyana Bar Association, Guyana Medical Council, Guyana Nurses Association and organisations working directly with victims of abuse and vulnerable groups.
According to the minister, feedback received during these consultations was incorporated into successive drafts of the legislation.
Additional technical consultations were held in November 2024 with police officers, prison officers, probation officers, state counsel and prosecutors.
Further public engagement took place in April 2025 during a symposium at the Umana Yana marking Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Teixeira said once consultations were completed and recommendations incorporated, the draft legislation underwent review by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Bills before being submitted to Cabinet.
However, the process was interrupted by the approach of General and Regional Elections and the dissolution of Parliament in July 2025.
As a result, the bill was placed on hold until after the elections.
According to Teixeira, the amendment bill seeks to strengthen Guyana’s legal framework for addressing sexual offences through several measures.
These include expanding categories of individuals considered to hold positions of trust, improving evidentiary procedures, strengthening protections for vulnerable adults and children, introducing mandatory reporting requirements for professionals working with vulnerable groups, and establishing the National Sex Offender Database.
The bill also proposes increased oversight and reporting requirements relating to sexual offences.
Teixeira argued that given the scale and breadth of the consultations conducted over more than a year, it would be “grossly incorrect” to suggest that the legislation was not subjected to extensive public and stakeholder scrutiny before being brought to Parliament.
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