Isaac and Athill charge that rape laws provide special treatment for the accused more than protection for the victim

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The country’s sexual offenses laws were drafted to protect males rather than their female victims, says Chairperson of the United Progressive Party (UPP) D.Gisele Isaac.

While women have been charged with such offences in Antigua & Barbuda, they would amount to less than one percent of offenders, a source speculates.

As it relates to rape, the law prohibits the name of an accused person from being published unless that person is found guilty of the offence, or otherwise directed by a judge. However, the names of the victims must never be published.

While this is so, Isaac asks what makes those accused of rape “special,” since the names of persons accused of other crimes, including murder, are routinely published.

She says the notion that alleged rapists may be discriminated against can also be applied to those charged with other crimes.

Isaac makes reference to the case involving a former British police officer who has been convicted of rape here.

She commends the victim for the public stance she took, and says she hopes that other females would be this brave. Unfortunately, Isaac says, there appears to be a cultural issue that prevents Caribbean women from making their ordeals public.

Cleon Athill, the UPP candidate for St. Paul and an advocate for women’s rights, agrees with Isaac.

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14 COMMENTS

  3. ISAAC and ATHILL two Big WASTE OF TIME. ANR stop NOT publish Their narratives. Both of Them are OPPORTUNISTS. When it was UPP Ministers not a drum was heard.

  4. PETE and DINOSAUR
    YOU ARE A TWO DUMB ASSES
    THERE IS NOTHING POLITICAL ABOUT THE ARTICLE.
    JUST SHUT UP AND GIVE WOMEN A CHANCE TO VENT AND RESPECT WOMEN, LITTLE BOYS.

  5. Alot of uprooting is going to have to start take place, to get things right. The system have fail too often, alot of inconsistencies. The time will come when it hit home and those same decision and law makers will want justice but will not find.

  6. That whole damn law needs to be changed today. This is not colonial days when cover-ups ruled the land. Change the law. Name names.

  7. While these two ladies makes a very vaild point I’m just wondering where was all this energy when a few years ago a similar accusation was made against a family member of former colleague of these ladies? Did they not see how flawed that law was during their tenure in power? I still waiting to see what actions the police take and if the PM will keep his word and fired the minister.

  8. People need to understand psychology with saying what the public wants to hear and doing, It is two different things.

    I havent seen any justice with a forge signature. (“We do not want to persecute just want back the money”)

    Money withheld from customs auction( we were told it has been paid back ; his friends delivered the news.

    The death of a customs officer

    Now an accuse rapist

    All these are trend the list goes on

  9. Finally! When news broke about alleged rape by a sitting Cabinet member, my mind ran instinctively to these two who possess both the motivation and a history of making false claims so I’m not at all surprised that they have finally surfaced. Journalist and mind reader, a deadly concoction.

  10. I hope this bow-tie minister wont get away like the minister who owns Elmo who has gotten away with just about everything except for murder.

    Speaking of murder, where are all the thugs who are responsible for kidnapping and murder Nigel Christian execution style? Is that getting swept under the rug too? That seems to follow this rape case too.

  11. Aru min inna government fu 10 years and only now aru know this! Gimme one break aru just ah look cheap political points.

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