Latest update May 10th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 21, 2015 News
Mark George, the Toshao who barred President Donald Ramotar from entering Moco Moco, North Rupununi on Monday last, was held yesterday by police over allegations of rape.
The Guyana Police Force issued a press release stating that investigations are ongoing into a report of sexual assault allegedly committed on a 13-year-old female student of the Moco Moco Primary School.
The missive said that a report of the incident which is alleged to have occurred on February 01, was made to the police at Lethem on Wednesday by the Region’s Schools Welfare Officer. This would have been two days after George’s refusal of Ramotar into the village was made public.
The Police said, “It is believed that there was some attempt to cover up the matter initially by members of the village because of who is the suspect in the matter. The police were earlier unsuccessful in contacting the victim and were only able to do so today Friday February 20, 2015, and are currently investigating the matter. The suspect, who is a senior official of the village of Moco Moco, has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.”
President Ramotar had to abort a campaign visit to a Region Nine Amerindian village after he was reportedly refused entry by the village Council. According to information, Moco Moco village Toshao, Mark George, turned down the President’s visit after “short notice” was given to the Council.
The Amerindian Act of 2006 permits that once a person is not travelling on official business for the government, they must then seek the permission of the village Council for a visit. So since President Ramotar was on campaign business for the upcoming General and Regional Elections, he had to seek permission to enter the Amerindian community.
Toshao George told the media that he had received a call from the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP)’s campaign organizer in that region around 10:00 hours on Sunday, explaining that the President wished to visit the community the very next day. George said that he informed the campaign organizer that the visit to the village was given at short notice and no official notice or letter was dispatched to the Council.
The Amerindian Act, he confirmed, clearly states that one week must be given for the visit to be approved.
The Toshao further explained that he had opted for the President to visit at a later date, but no date had been set aside. He said in the case of the President, the Council would have attempted to speed up preparations for his visit.
George said he was very concerned about being unable to allow the President entry into the village, but reiterated the content of the Act.
(Abena Rockcliffe)
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