IAC wants age of consent increased to 16
Guyana Chronicle
June 5, 2004

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THE Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) has called for "urgent" family law reform in Guyana, saying it must include raising the age of consent from 14 to 16 years.

The IAC made the call in a press release yesterday.

The organization was responding to the furore over a romantic affair allegedly involving a businessman and a 13-year-old girl.

It said it was "extremely concerned about the sordid developments in the story" and "strongly condemns such alliances which involve girls of all ethnicity who are minors."

"The IAC is of the view that the age of consent for girls must be moved to 16 years of age and that the penalty for statutory rape be a minimum of 15 years in jail for offenders," the statement said.

The organization called on the authorities to set up a Law Reform Committee under the provision of the 1997 Law Revision Act, "to deal urgently with family law reform so that in future girls of all ethnicities can be protected from sexual predators."