A 15-year-old girl from Awarewanau Village in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) has allegedly been raped a regional official, but this was only recently discovered after the teen’s parents became aware that she was pregnant.
Police Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budhram, acting upon information received, has dispatched officers to the village to obtain greater details on the situation.
Minister within the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, has also confirmed to Guyana Times that she has heard about the issue, but she said that, to date, no official report has been made. She said she has spoken to the community’s toshao, who has also acknowledged awareness of the issue but has disclosed that no official report has been made.
Guyana Times understands that the pregnant teen was among three young females who had been suspended from the Aishalton dormitory after they had escaped from the premises and had spent the night elsewhere —  reportedly with a top regional official sometime in November 2016.
Before the Aishalton school was recessed last term, it was discovered that one of the girls was pregnant. This newspaper was informed that the teenager allegedly told her parents that she had shared a relationship with the regional official.
Guyana Times understands that the teenager’s parents are hesitant to make an official report to the police, since they have been promised an attractive compensation package.