TALKS FIRST

THE ABOLITION OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS A MATTER FOR CONSULTATION – ABRAHAMS

By Anesta Henry

Before any decision is made regarding abolishing corporal punishment, the Government must first consult with stakeholders and interest groups.
Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams made this position clear as he responded to the call from Member of Parliament Marsha Caddle for an end to corporal punishment in schools.
“This is something that has to be looked at seriously and a decision taken one way or another. Right now there is protection for children so that you can’t abuse a child.
“Even if a parent can legally punish their child, there is a point at which it passes correction into abuse and then the law can deal harshly with that parent. There is a point with teachers, it passes correction into abuse and the law will deal harshly with it. It is something that we have to look at,” Abrahams said.
Speaking during Friday’s post-Cabinet press conference, at Parliament Buildings, Abraham announced that the Child Protection Bill 2022 will be laid before the House of Assembly soon. He said the issue of making corporal punishment unlawful in Barbados has been around for many years with Barbadians being divided on their views.
“That is one that has been floating around for quite a while and if you go and do a poll of Bajans, you will get that division down the middle. You will get people who are animated on either side of the fence. Times have changed, perceptions have changed, ways to deal with children have changed.
“If you just look at our child protection legislation, our child justice legislation, even the ways of dealing with children that will guarantee a stern response before, the aim now is to try to meet that child to find out where that child is and to find the best solution for that child.
“Even talking practically, for some children, you beat a child until the cows come home and that child ain’t changing nothing. For other children, just the threat of it will change their behaviour. For some children, a lash changes them.”
On Wednesday, as she delivered remarks during the I am A Girl workshop for female secondary schools students, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in recognition of International Women’s Day, Caddle said that as society tries to eliminate various forms of abuse, the use of corporal punishment needs to be re-examined. She said she viewed corporal punishment as “state-sanctioned abuse of children”.
Minister Abrahams, who acknowledged that Caddle had the right to hold her views on the matter, said a decision on corporal punishment must coincide with the rights of the child and achieve the Government’s goals of securing the best options, future and possibilities for the nation’s children.
“Marsha as a member of this Government… everybody is encouraged to be able to embrace their views. We will not always have the exact same view. I am not saying that my view is different to hers but as a minister I have to also consider and factor the collective responsibility of Cabinet.
“So as a minister I am not at liberty to even tender my own personal view at this point in time. That is something that has to be contemplated and dealt with as a Government in terms of reform of legislation if necessary. Member of Parliament Caddle is known for speaking her views and she is in a position to do so, “ Abrahams said.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb