‘Bail is not consistent’ –Minister Persaud says victims remain at risk after accused released

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud on Monday again raised concerns about the granting of bail in sexual offence and family violence matters, saying the system is sometimes inconsistent and tends to leave victims vulnerable.

“What we have is that bail is not consistent sometimes, many times with what happens.

“Even when someone comes out on bail we have seen them go out back and kill the very person who have made those reports,” Dr Persaud said while speaking at a Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2026 symposium.

According to Dr Persaud, there is a need for stronger discussions on the measures applied in serious offences.

She warned that in some cases, complainants continue to face danger even after accused persons are released from custody.

“These are the ugly but real things that happen in our world but we have to talk about them, we have to come up with recommendations and solutions,” Dr Persaud said.

She also pointed to provisions in the recently passed Family Violence Act 2024, which places timelines on the handling of reports.

“Within 72 hours the Police would have to say whether or not charges would be applied,” she said.

In Guyana, sexual offences are bailable, but bail is not automatically granted. Magistrates consider factors such as the safety of the complainant and the risk of flight before making a decision.

Upon conviction, penalties for sexual offences range from five to 10 years imprisonment, with some offences carrying life sentences.