PR โ The Democratic Peopleโs Movement (DPM), led by Peter David, is calling for the urgent establishment of a National Sex Offendersโ Registry in Grenada in the wake of two recent killings and rising concern about domestic and sexual violence.
The time has come to move from outrage to concrete action to tackle what is now โa national emergencyโโ, said David, a veteran MP and father of three girls.
He emphasized that protecting women and girls, and other vulnerable people, and safeguarding them against tragedy, requires a coherent national strategy, not piecemeal responses.
โWe believe there should be a registry for sex offenders,โ David stated on GBNโsย To The Point, explaining that once an offender meets the legal threshold, โthey should register. So, if John Brown comes in this community, the community should know, because John Brown is a sex offender.โ
The DPM leader, who is a lawyer by profession, argued that the registry must be part of a broader legal and social framework. He recommended the establishing of dedicated courts, or specialized court sessions, to deal specifically with sex offences; proposed psychological assessment and treatment for offenders while in custody; and also continued monitoring of high-risk offenders after release, including electronic monitoring where necessary.
In addition, David also stressed the need for community-based mechanisms to track and supervise offenders in collaboration with law enforcement, so that communities are not left in the dark when known predators return to their neighbourhoods.
Victimsโ needs, said the leader of the Movement, must be central to any reform.
โOur society needs to put resources into that,โ he said, calling for counseling services, safe homes and shelters, and practical support for victims trying to escape abuse.
โHow many young women come to me and say, โI canโt take the abuse; I need a place to stay to get out, but I canโt get out because I donโt have a place to go.โโ
David also highlighted the role of families and communities in preventing violence, insisting that Grenada must invest in its people at the grassroots level.
โWe need to put resources into the communities; have constant sessions, where the community comes together and talks about the young people (and) what they need,โโ he said.
โThe DPM fully supports the longstanding public call for a Sex Offendersโ Registry. Domestic and sexual violence are now a national emergency. We must build a system โ in law, in the courts, in our communities โ that protects our people before tragedy strikes, not after.โ
