The following is a statement by Member of Parliament for St Joseph Dale Marshall on recent comments concerning a sex offenders registry.
Prompt responses by a wide cross section of society have led me to conclude that my position on the issue of a register of sex offenders may need some clarification. I wish therefore to state my position on the matter for the interest and benefit of all concerned.
The focus from my comments centred around a response to Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police William Yearwood’s call for introducing a sex offenders’ registry here as a means of dealing with an increase in rape cases.
First, like all Barbadians, I believe that even one sexual offence is too many. I believe that anyone who commits such a heinous act should be severely dealt with by our Law Courts.
In fact, I believe that the real issue in Barbados relates to our ability to adequately investigate and prosecute sexual offences, and the enforcement of penalties that match the seriousness of such offences, and the damage they cause in the lives of victims and their families.
Furthermore, we all know that our problems also relate to the length of time it takes for these cases to be heard in our court system. These delays compound the victimisation, as survivors must wait long periods for justice to be delivered, and for their healing to truly begin.
The broader point must be made that we cannot look at sex offenders only. This call related only to a sexual offenders’ registry, but not for a wider registry of persons charged with domestic violence or any other very serious crimes which might be perpetrated against any individual.
We know that these offences cause just as lasting damage in the way of serious injury, disfigurement and death, predominantly of women.
Before we look to import wholesale the measures other countries adopt to fight crime we need to see if they can be adapted to the Barbadian context. In the context of the USA, the Sexual Offenders Registry applies to sexual predators or where minors are the victims.
It is used only as a measure to protect the public. It is especially valuable in the USA given the fact that offenders can easily move to other districts or states and continue their predatory crimes as an unknown person. This is less likely to be the case with Barbados.
As we address these issues and other aspects of keeping a safe and secure Barbados, we will continue to put the interests of victims and their families first, while minimising the opportunity for injustices to be perpetrated.
I believe that rather than the initial focus on a Registry, we should seek to devote resources to: