The Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) has called for an explanation of the handling of Daniel Seeram’s remand to prison, warning that delays in enforcing court orders could undermine public confidence in justice, particularly among victims of domestic violence.
In a letter signed by its Chairperson, Indranie Chandarpal, the constitutional body criticised what it described as the Police Force’s failure to promptly execute the court’s instructions following Seeram’s conviction for assaulting his former wife.
“The Women & Gender Equality Commission is astonished and distressed at the flagrant disregard for established judicial process,” Chandarpal wrote.
Seeram, the National Border Patrol Director and former Region Four Chairman, was convicted by Magistrate Abigail Gibbs on October 2 for assaulting his former wife in September 2023. He was ordered remanded pending sentencing on November 2. On October 5, Justice Joy Persaud-Singh dismissed his application for judicial review and upheld the magistrate’s refusal of bail.
The Commission questioned why the initial remand order was not promptly executed and why, after the High Court’s ruling, there was a further delay in handing Seeram over to the Guyana Prison Service.
Subsequent reporting by Demerara Waves quoted a Prison Service official confirming that police handed Seeram over to prison officers at Camp Street on October 9 at 4:35 p.m. That transfer followed the delay which forms the basis of the Commission’s concerns.
Chandarpal also questioned the State’s position during the judicial review proceedings. Deputy Solicitor General Shoshanna Lall, representing the Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions, had supported arguments against Seeram’s continued remand. The High Court nevertheless upheld the magistrate’s decision.
According to the Commission, the handling of the matter threatens to weaken years of work encouraging victims to report abuse and trust the institutions responsible for protecting them.
Chandarpal said the body has spent more than 15 years conducting public education across Guyana, stressing that intimate partner violence and other forms of family violence must not be tolerated and that perpetrators should face the courts.
“This case, unfortunately, puts all of this into question and reinforces the view that justice is not for all,” she stated.
The WGEC is a constitutional commission tasked with promoting women’s rights and gender equality. Its work includes public education on gender-based violence, reviewing laws and recommending policy changes, and monitoring Guyana’s commitments under international instruments protecting women’s rights. It also provides guidance to persons affected by domestic violence and sexual harassment.
Chandarpal warned that the treatment of a case involving a senior government official could reinforce fears that an abuser’s position or connections influence the justice process.
“It is no wonder that the public and persons who are victims of abuse do not believe they can expect a just outcome, especially when the perpetrator holds a position of power or is perceived to retain the backing of the powerful,” she wrote.
The Commission called on the relevant agencies to explain their actions, stressing the seriousness of spousal abuse and the need for equal treatment before the law.
Meanwhile, Seeram has appealed his conviction and is seeking bail pending sentencing. His attorney, Nigel Hughes, has challenged the magistrate’s assessment of the evidence and treatment of his claim of self-defence.
