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-after ‘family issue’ comments on candidate accused of child molestation

March 19, 2016 Source

Red Thread is calling on President David Granger to relieve Minister Volda Lawrence of the social protection portfolio.

Its call comes in light of a comment the minister made in relation to allegations against an APNU+AFC coalition candidate, Winston Harding, who has been charged several times, although not convicted, for child molestation.

When asked about the situation, Lawrence had said that the allegations were a “family issue.”

“This is a family issue that has been going on and on and on and on for whatever reason, I can’t tell you, because if I had a brother, even if there was an accusation, this is not how I would go about helping him,” she told Stabroek News.

“Do you think that me, the minister in charge of that (social protection), would have someone like that running? Do you think that the party would expose itself like that? We are aware of the situation but he was never charged,” she maintained.

Members of Red Thread, Childlink and the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association [GRPA) picketing the office of Social Protection Minister, Volda Lawrence on Lamaha Street.
Members of Red Thread, Childlink and the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) picketing the office of Social Protection Minister, Volda Lawrence on Lamaha Street.

Speaking with Stabroek News at a protest held outside of the Minister’s Lamaha Street office yesterday, Karen de Souza, coordinator of Red Thread, said the comments made by Minister Lawrence suggest that she is not qualified to hold her present portfolio.

“To say that it is a family matter seems as if the Minister is setting herself up as judge and jury.

Where is the judicial system in this? An accusation has been made. It is for the police to investigate and the judiciary to settle but claiming it is a family matter when you have responsibility for child protection suggests that you have no concrete plan to address child protection in this country,” she said.

Also present were members of Childlink and the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA).

Efforts by Stabroek News to contact Minister Lawrence proved futile as were efforts to seek a comment from President Granger on Red Thread’s request.

Stabroek News had confirmed that Harding had been charged more than once with indecent assault and another accusation had been made against him in 2012.

After Stabroek News published the information collected on Harding, the coalition declared its non-support for Harding and said the accusations of child molestation as reported in the media are a matter of grave concern.

There, however, has been no response from the government to the comments made by Minister Lawrence.


Volda goofed up,she needed to clear this issue up what i can't understand is some of the responses by the Ministers are very poor.They need to think before making a statement.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

It seem as David like to surround himself with people like Volda Lawrence. When he increased the incompetence minister salary so that they wouldn't thief, he was actually confessing that are thieves and you can't trust them.

I said in another thread that she should be kicked out of public office.

 

FM
Cobra posted:

It seem as David like to surround himself with people like Volda Lawrence. When he increased the incompetence minister salary so that they wouldn't thief, he was actually confessing that are thieves and you can't trust them.

I said in another thread that she should be kicked out of public office.

 

You need to shut your stink mouth Mr Pajama Pants.  Note also that in the face of the child sex trade at Madia, pryia said her hands are tied. Then there was all the brouhaha about no trafficking in Guyana when every Guyanese could see it in the mining camps. That fat piggie not only stayed in office she was protected and celebrated as the face as the young PPP by punks like you.

Yes Ms Lawrence should go. Hers is not a simple mistake. It is a cultural blindness that is a disease in our society being given expression in her words. We do need better.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

President Granger may instruct Minister Volda Lawrence to make a public apology for her remarks and that could be the end of the matter. Unfortunately. The good thing is that APNU+AFC has dissociated itself from Harding who cannot represent the coalition in the City Council.

FM

“To say that it is a family matter seems as if the Minister is setting herself up as judge and jury.

She was waiting for David to be her leader to act like a bully. Eh, Stormy?

FM

Two days before the LGE was held, the APNU in a statement claimed to have withdrawn its support for the official in the LGE, and a wide cross section of society had commended the Government for such a move.

Meanwhile, GECOM still proceeded to count the votes for Harding.

 

FM
Stormborn posted:
Cobra posted:

It seem as David like to surround himself with people like Volda Lawrence. When he increased the incompetence minister salary so that they wouldn't thief, he was actually confessing that are thieves and you can't trust them.

I said in another thread that she should be kicked out of public office.

 

You need to shut your stink mouth Mr Pajama Pants.  Note also that in the face of the child sex trade at Madia, pryia said her hands are tied. Then there was all the brouhaha about no trafficking in Guyana when every Guyanese could see it in the mining camps. That fat piggie not only stayed in office she was protected and celebrated as the face as the young PPP by punks like you.

Yes Ms Lawrence should go. Hers is not a simple mistake. It is a cultural blindness that is a disease in our society being given expression in her words. We do need better.

She should go. Her "crime" is not as bad as Ramotar pardoning a child molester.

Stormy, you letting these boys rattle your cage banna. 

V
Last edited by VishMahabir
Gilbakka posted:

President Granger may instruct Minister Volda Lawrence to make a public apology for her remarks and that could be the end of the matter. Unfortunately. The good thing is that APNU+AFC has dissociated itself from Harding who cannot represent the coalition in the City Council.

Let me amend the last sentence above. True, APNU+AFC officially dissociated itself from Harding. However, I just learned that APNU+AFC cannot recall Harding because of some stipulation in the local government or GECOM rules. That's terrible.

FM
VishMahabir posted:
Stormborn posted:
Cobra posted:

It seem as David like to surround himself with people like Volda Lawrence. When he increased the incompetence minister salary so that they wouldn't thief, he was actually confessing that are thieves and you can't trust them.

I said in another thread that she should be kicked out of public office.

 

You need to shut your stink mouth Mr Pajama Pants.  Note also that in the face of the child sex trade at Madia, pryia said her hands are tied. Then there was all the brouhaha about no trafficking in Guyana when every Guyanese could see it in the mining camps. That fat piggie not only stayed in office she was protected and celebrated as the face as the young PPP by punks like you.

Yes Ms Lawrence should go. Hers is not a simple mistake. It is a cultural blindness that is a disease in our society being given expression in her words. We do need better.

She should go. Her "crime" is not as bad as Ramotar pardoning a child molester.

Stormy, you letting these boys rattle your cage banna. 

They are not rattling my cage. I commented similarly on SN days ago. It is my firm belief that there should be heightened sensitivity in areas of domestic violence, rape and crimes against children. Our society has gotten away with committing these crimes with a mere slap on the hand for a long time. We need a registry for rapists and child molesters. These are an especially nasty group who are seldom rehabilitated. They ought to be watched for t heir entire lives.

FM

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