It is not difficult to understand john Fabien’s position on the controversy surrounding the call for the decriminalization of buggery because of the law’s influence on the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Recall that Fabien, the Minister of Health, and medical personalities such as Dr. Carissa Etienne was the pioneer of Dominica‘s exemplary primary health care systems. He knows the seriousness of the AIDS crisis that confronts the Caribbean. But base on the uproar that erupted after he made the statement, Fabien probably underestimated the depth of thee antagonism that Dominicans have towards homosexuality.
It is also not difficult to understand Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s position when he stated that buggery will not become legal in Dominica as long as he is Prime Minister. Like with all politicians, PM Skerrit told the people what they wanted to hear – despite the fact that homosexuality is contributing largely to the spread of AIDS in Dominica, and recommendation like these could possibly contain the AIDS pandemic.
There is no doubt that statistics on AIDS in the Caribbean is frightening. Experts say that every day in the Caribbean 38 people lose their lives to AIDS; while 55 more become infected with the virus.
We may be in denial about changes to our cultural norms but the fact is AIDS is also spreading like wild fire in our communities. The point is our politicians, religious leaders and community health experts must learn how to bury their differences and find multi-divided solutions to the HIV/AIDS problem.
If banning of buggery laws is part of the solution and it may save the lives of ten of thousands of our Caribbean people, then we must discuss the issue without prejudice. It’s not like we have a lot of choices.
While I agree Chris that the rates of HIV infection and AIDS are alarming and modifying the law may help, I think we should not ignore the effect of the breakdown of the family unit and promiscuity. It should be a crime to father 10 children by 10 different women for example because it is simply not possible to take care of all of these different families.
The act of intimacy between partners has lost some of its “specialness” in our current culture. The idea of waiting until marriage is considered ludicrous by a significant number. The books we read, the movies we watch, television shows all promote the idea that intimacy is a natural end to a mere “date”. The idea of marriage and remaining in the intimate zone with your partner for life is viewed as extraordinary. If we really want to combat this disease, we are in need of a serious cultural shift by both heterosexuals and homosexuals. We need to tell our sons and our daughters that they are special and when they give themselves to another they are making a commitment even if it is not a formal one. I freely admit that for me, age has brought increasing wisdom. That is probably generally true amongst the population and young teenagers for example are simply not emotionally prepared for intimacy. Once that line has been crossed it is very difficult to ask them to make changes or to change their perspective as they age. Intimacy at a young age should be discouraged and responsibility encouraged. A man or woman who abandons their child should feel the scorn of their community, embarrassed to show their face. The child who has been abandoned needs to know that it was not okay – if not, society runs the risk of that child growing up to be a parent that abandons their child and the cycle continues. I heard an individual say the other day if we want to change the world what you must do is first stand up, take a piece of chalk or marker and draw a circle around yourself, then change what is in the circle. Change is going to come through each of us as individuals not through changes in the law.
SKT
The only way you will be able to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS to to start opening those doors you have tried so hard to keep shut. The world is evolving and the people of the Caribbean islands are being left behind – what a shame. It’s about time for you to stand up and look at the reality of your world around you. How about removing the stigma of being gay to begin with. As long as people are afraid to come out and be honest about who they are, the dialogue will never change. If you want to know who is spreading AIDS….it is the HETEROsexuals! Promiscious individuals who could care less about themselves or they people they have sex with. How about educating the public, teaching safe sex, talking openly about the issues at hand. Open the lines to communication and see what happens. You can’t pretend these things aren’t happening!!
“In Dominica HIV is spread mainly through heterosexual transmission, 15 – 49 years is the most vulnerable age group for infection and males and females between the ages of 25 and 44 years are particularly at risk.”–Dominica Report to the United Nations, 2006
Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is not innocents. The spread of HIV and Aids is due to promiscuity among both heterosexuals and homosexuals. the solution to the problem is teaching and talking openly about the consequences of sexual behaviour to our teens as early as nine years of age responsible sex education must be commence so young people value themselves, and know how to deal with the hormonal changes that take place in their bodies. Acceptance of the differences in society and destigmatisation of people with different sexual orientation. Young men deciding that having a number of children by different mothers is irreponsible and definely uncool. This is what the PM should be addressing now what people doing in there bedroom.
First, I must begin by saying that I am in agreement with all the previous comments. But my concern is, are the people in Dominica receiving such diverse feed back about what the people from outside looking in are saying? Making laws based upon the first findings of the Aids virus in order to cover a personal or cultural view point does not mandate the ruling as fair. From the beginning of the Aids research; one could not touch, or kiss or eat from the same utensil as an infected person with the Aids virus or HIV. As time went on and research continued on the Aids virus one of their fabrication was that Aids came from the African monkeys. But as of the latest findings and the truth of the Aids virus; it was manufactured in a lab. True enough, if a germ is planted in a germ filled incubator one must expect an overwhelming response in growth. Aids is a sexual transmitted disease. I will not label or give the disease a gender or make it cross gender. Making laws based upon our dissatisfaction with the choices that others make in their personal lives shows the lack of respect that leaders have for an individual…. at the very same time imposing their views upon the masses. These are the same people who ‘stand’ behind the laws of protecting the people. For instance, rape is a punishable crime, simply based upon its nature. But in Dominica, if a man rapes his wife it is not considered as rape and is therefore thrown out of any court. Such is the same on other cases; if a police officer , or any other government official commits a crime , they do not receive any punishment as per the law states for its other citizen. If you are going to punish one, punish all. Being concerned with what a man do in the privacy of his home should only be interfered with where the vulnerable and innocent are concerned; the father committing incest with his daughter –should be penalized to the fullest extent or the neighbor having sex with the mentally insane. Laws are made to protect the people especially the vulnerable and the innocent. Laws are not made to get your kicks in while a man is down. Please revise this law where so the people who a vulnerable are not plagued and become victimized based upon their personal rights. Another instance if one is caught in the act of committing suicide he should be dealt with very carefully… in the attempt of helping him to understand the nature of his actions and assist him in a recovery program. After saving him from killing himself ;would you, while he is still in the hospital give him a lethal injection.