Blab Politics
Guyana Minister Teixeira Defends Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill After Criticism
On June 5 2026, the National Assembly of Guyana approved the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, a package that introduces the nation’s first National Sex Offender Database and broadens safeguards for victims of sexual crime. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira faced sharp criticism that the bill was rushed and lacked public consultation. She countered by stressing that the proposal emerged from a year‑long, multi‑stakeholder consultation process.
The review of Guyana’s Sexual Offences Act began under the Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme, financed by the Inter‑American Development Bank (IDB). A consultant was engaged to pinpoint gaps in the existing law and recommend reforms. Teixeira said the consultation phase, which lasted 12 months, drew together government ministries, legal experts, civil society organisations, faith‑based groups, regional representatives and members of the public.
A key milestone was the National Stakeholders Forum held on July 3 2024 at the Cara Lodge Hotel. The Minister noted that 103 agencies and organisations were invited, and 62 participants confirmed attendance. Delegates represented all ten administrative regions, ministries of Health, Education, Human Services and Social Security, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Bureau of Statistics, the National Toshaos Council, and a range of NGOs and professional bodies. The forum was described as the “main” venue for discussing the draft bill.
During the forum, stakeholders largely backed the creation of a national registry but agreed that it should remain closed to the public. Teixeira explained that a legal review found that many countries maintain sex‑offender registries that are accessible only to law‑enforcement agencies. An open registry, she argued, could infringe on privacy and other human rights.
The Minister also cited public invitations issued by Attorney General Anil Nandlall in 2024, which encouraged citizens and opposition parties to review the draft legislation and submit recommendations. The draft bill was posted online for almost a year, and the Guyana Bar Association circulated it to its members on June 27 2024, inviting attorneys‑at‑law to submit comments before the July forum.
Critics contend that the bill was introduced without sufficient public input. Teixeira denied this, stating that the bill was refined through additional technical consultations with police officers, prison officials, probation officers and prosecutors after the July forum and before the 2025 general and regional elections. The bill was delayed by the dissolution of Parliament for the elections.
The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill seeks to strengthen Guyana’s sexual‑offence laws by expanding victim protections, imposing tougher accountability on offenders, mandating reporting obligations for certain professionals, and creating a National Sex Offender Database. The database would apply to Guyanese citizens and residents convicted of specified offences both within and outside Guyana, as well as to persons convicted of such offences in Guyana after the law comes into force.
The bill also includes provisions for a fine of $100,000 and a three‑year jail term for officials who leak information from the proposed database, according to reports. It was read for the first time in the National Assembly on June 5, 2026, and is currently under debate.
Teixeira’s defense of the bill comes amid continued opposition calls for greater transparency and public participation. The bill’s status remains pending further debate in the National Assembly, with the next vote scheduled for the coming weeks. The government has indicated that it will proceed with the bill once the legislative process is complete.
The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill represents a significant shift in Guyana’s approach to sexual‑crime legislation, marking the first time the country will maintain a national registry of sex offenders. The outcome of the current debate will determine whether the bill will become law and how the registry will be implemented.
The review of Guyana’s Sexual Offences Act began under the Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme, financed by the Inter‑American Development Bank (IDB). A consultant was engaged to pinpoint gaps in the existing law and recommend reforms. Teixeira said the consultation phase, which lasted 12 months, drew together government ministries, legal experts, civil society organisations, faith‑based groups, regional representatives and members of the public.
A key milestone was the National Stakeholders Forum held on July 3 2024 at the Cara Lodge Hotel. The Minister noted that 103 agencies and organisations were invited, and 62 participants confirmed attendance. Delegates represented all ten administrative regions, ministries of Health, Education, Human Services and Social Security, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Bureau of Statistics, the National Toshaos Council, and a range of NGOs and professional bodies. The forum was described as the “main” venue for discussing the draft bill.
During the forum, stakeholders largely backed the creation of a national registry but agreed that it should remain closed to the public. Teixeira explained that a legal review found that many countries maintain sex‑offender registries that are accessible only to law‑enforcement agencies. An open registry, she argued, could infringe on privacy and other human rights.
The Minister also cited public invitations issued by Attorney General Anil Nandlall in 2024, which encouraged citizens and opposition parties to review the draft legislation and submit recommendations. The draft bill was posted online for almost a year, and the Guyana Bar Association circulated it to its members on June 27 2024, inviting attorneys‑at‑law to submit comments before the July forum.
Critics contend that the bill was introduced without sufficient public input. Teixeira denied this, stating that the bill was refined through additional technical consultations with police officers, prison officials, probation officers and prosecutors after the July forum and before the 2025 general and regional elections. The bill was delayed by the dissolution of Parliament for the elections.
The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill seeks to strengthen Guyana’s sexual‑offence laws by expanding victim protections, imposing tougher accountability on offenders, mandating reporting obligations for certain professionals, and creating a National Sex Offender Database. The database would apply to Guyanese citizens and residents convicted of specified offences both within and outside Guyana, as well as to persons convicted of such offences in Guyana after the law comes into force.
The bill also includes provisions for a fine of $100,000 and a three‑year jail term for officials who leak information from the proposed database, according to reports. It was read for the first time in the National Assembly on June 5, 2026, and is currently under debate.
Teixeira’s defense of the bill comes amid continued opposition calls for greater transparency and public participation. The bill’s status remains pending further debate in the National Assembly, with the next vote scheduled for the coming weeks. The government has indicated that it will proceed with the bill once the legislative process is complete.
The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill represents a significant shift in Guyana’s approach to sexual‑crime legislation, marking the first time the country will maintain a national registry of sex offenders. The outcome of the current debate will determine whether the bill will become law and how the registry will be implemented.
