Gov’t urged to revisit wording of Charter

Opposition Leader Joseph Atherley is warning Government that the term ‘sexual orientation’ included in the Charter of Barbados 2021 may send the wrong message to adults interested in having sex with children.

Asking Government to come clean on whether it is prepared to redefine gender for the rest of the world, Atherley who also suggested that the line be drawn on the matter of sexual orientation, noted that there are ongoing talks in some parts of the world regarding replacing paedophilia with ‘minor attracted person”.

Speaking on the Resolution: Atherley said: “And we capture a broad general term, sexual orientation. We put it in this charter, next thing you know it ends up in the fundamental rights in our Constitution.

“They want to destigmatize paedophilia. Interfering with little children is going to become our right when sexual orientation is protected as a right. I am saying you cannot settle with language like this, sexual orientation in a charter which is something the world itself has not settled on.”

However, Acting Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams who got to his feet on a point of order said nothing in the Charter was seeking to promote illegal activities. He said, Atherley should know better than to ascribe to a Government charged with upholding the law, paedophilia which is considered a crime worldwide.

The minister said his Government does not support paedophilia or blatant sexual illegality that harms people.

Abrahams said: “The Honourable member indicated that we are promoting something, including paedophilia which is likely to form a part of the next constitution. This Charter seeks to protect all persons from discrimination. Once your rights do not infringe upon my rights, then your rights have the right to be protected.”

Nevertheless, Bishop Atherley remained adamant that language which embraces terms that are unsettled and undetermined even in the global community, is being captured in the Charter. Stating that he has never accused Government of wanting to promote paedophilia.

The Opposition Leader said: “I am simply warning this Government against unintended outcomes because when you use language which right now at this present time in global debate, even in judicial and parliamentary circles, is undetermined as to what it actually means, when you put that in a charter, be careful that you do not arrive at an outcome that you do not intend and some idiot from some part of the world comes and use the wording here to challenge in Court, a position that they hold, that it is alright for them to interfere with little boys and little girls and that they can prove under the law that they are right in so doing. That is not accusing the Government of intending to do that, that is warning against a possible eventuality. He who does not see that pretends to be blind.” (AH)