THE public consultation on the Registration of the Sex Offenders Bill 2018 drew attention among residents of Lagalaga in Macuata with discussions focused on a case involving an underage girl.
Members of the community questioned the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights about the powers of police in arresting an 18-year-old boy who was dating a 15-year-old girl.
Farmer Akisi Vinaka told the committee she had visited the girl’s family and the boy’s family as well asking the parents to intervene and stop the relationship as the girl was a minor.
“I believe it is our role and we, as the community, should hold hands and address this kind of issues instead of pointing a finger,” she said.
“I visited the boy’s family and asked the parents to talk to their son to stop dating the underage girl and they told me they had.”
The meeting heard that the duo had spent nights together at the girl’s family house.
Another farmer Jesh Karan said this was a serious issue and needed to be dealt with.
Committee chairman Alvick Maharaj said parents played a vital role in addressing such issues.
“If the parents are not playing their role in preventing this, what could the police do and we need to advocate on the parents’ role and the community could help.”
The concerns raised, he said, had been taken on board by his team.
