Human Services Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud has revealed that the sex offenders’ registry, which is provided for in the Sexual Offences Amendment Bill of 2024 which is expected to be passed in the National Assembly soon, will not be public.
It is proposed that the registry will contain over 30 personal details about the offender including their name and all former names, date and place of birth, sex, nationality, main as well as secondary addresses, place of employment, national identification card, their height, weight and physical description, offences committed, including their respective dates as well as convictions and penalties imposed, acquittals or pardons.
It is proposed that the database also include the licence plate number of the vehicle for which the offender has regular control or use, or which he owns or operates as well as a description of the vehicle.
The names and ages of children residing in the same dwelling house in which the offender is residing as well as the name, address and contact information for the offender’s next of kin are also to be included in the database, according to the proposed amendments.
The name, address and contact information of any club, association or organisation whose membership includes children and with which the offender is affiliated is also proposed to be included in the database.
Fingerprints, DNA profile compiled from sample taken from the offender, medical history including information on any communicable diseases contracted by the offender, photograph, information on the IP address of any device regularly used by the offender as well as their email addresses are proposed to be included in the database.
Speaking during the Starting Point programme, the minister said persons would have to write to the Commissioner of Police if they are interested in accessing any information from the registry.
“Let’s say somebody turn up in your community, you have your suspicion and you’re feeling unsafe, you can write to ask. So, it’s not something that’s going to be public…but the public can access through a mechanism,” she explained.
