#SpeakingOut – Barbadians called to reject Gender Neutrality as a core value

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

The above are the “Core Values” proposed by Barbados’ Ministry of Education Technology and Vocational Training (METVT). I purposely stress on the word “proposed” because I can only imagine that the people of Barbados will have a say on these “Core Values”. To state them as “core” implies they are mundane, or at a minimum, desirable across a wide spectrum of Barbadians. Core Values are such that they are immediately desirable, even if not easily attainable, by persons in general, wherever they may reside.

Research shows that five basic core values in life are required for a healthy society. These are integrity, accountability, diligence, perseverance and discipline (Google). There are also five core values specifically for education, developed over time: inculcation, moral development, analysis, values clarification and action learning (Google). Note, neither of these findings is all-inclusive.

The Core Values listed by METVT of Integrity, Personal Identity, Respect, Cultural Diversity, Courtesy, Discipline and Responsibility are terms bandied about Barbados for decades and most every Barbadian has heard and accepted them as positive influencers for life.

I can understand the need for Personal Identity in our post-enslavement society. Cultural Diversity within an educational context, however, is stretching the goals a bit. I can see the need in an evolving society to encourage cultural diversity, but as a core value within a school setting is a bit of a stretch for me. However, the one value that I struggle to understand its bearing within the school system is “Gender Neutrality”. Since when does identifying a person as male, female or otherwise become a core value of education? What exactly are we aiming to educate our children about?

This is where I believe total disrespect for the people of Barbados is being continually displayed by METVT. The Computer Pre-Test debacle was a clear exercise in total disrespect for the common tax-paying man and woman. Now, most people agree that Barbadians are a strongly religious people, some call it a “Christian Nation”. While this is a point for debate, I think it is fair to say that we are a faith-based people. 

Our President, Dame Sandra Mason in her Christmas Day address to the nation, said “… Sunday School and church-going are not just for the middle-aged persons and the elderly in our communities, it is for the young, to instil and reinforce Christian principles and values which should be taught in the home as a starting point…” Everyone knows that Christian principles teach that God made male and female. As Genesis 5:2 says, “He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them human.” (New Living Translation).

In a society where the majority of people believe in this core principle, how can METVT come and ordain a new value stating the exact opposite, i.e. a human can identify as neither male nor female? This reminds me of the trick in the Garden of Eden when God said one thing and then Satan came to the female and, in a slick manner, suggested to her that what God said was not really so. 

Are we back here again, in Barbados’ Garden of Eden? Is METVT going beyond suggesting but mandating as a “core value” to our children that they can be either male, female or neither and possibly gender fluid? This sounds like a travesty and a downright insult to the many Christians, Rastafarians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and other faith-based persons in our nation, where their belief systems are being trampled. This instantly violates core principles of respect, integrity and courtesy, and is again rather irresponsible as was the Computer Pre-Test. Discipline would have caused the METVT to take the time to run this by the people it claims to care so much about.

While some claim Barbados is not a Christian Nation, we are at a minimum, a God-focused people and so we should not allow a few persons with differing and questionable agendas, possibly imported from the American and European nations, to force their thinking down our throats. Our very PM stated in her Christmas Day message 2022, “… Barbados’ Christian tradition invites us to embrace the meaning of Christmas, the Word being made flesh and dwelling among us…” (extracted from John 1:14). 

By the very words of our most honourable leaders, some may conclude that Barbados has a very strong Christian leaning. We recall the plea of MP Ralph Thorne to get back to Christian morals and values in his parliamentary presentation in the latter half of 2022. The anti-religion pundits claim that Christianity is a Euro-centric religion, a claim which carries lots of truth. Be this the case, why then are certain factions among us bent on importing worldviews from these same nations which have historically done our people of African descent much harm? When researching the state of play in many African nations, these types of philosophies are not even on the agenda of African people and their governments; rather, they are downright and openly rejected. Why are Bajans still pandering to the West and Europe? Come on Bajans, let us reject foreign philosophies which we know are not mundane to us and continue to be brave and trust the same God who has kept us for the “past 300 years”. 

As we evolve, let us not cut the very branch on which we are sitting. Let us not abandon our God and our faith for the creations and ideologies of man inspired by a very real devil. Let us send a clear message that we, the people, stipulate to METVT that Gender Neutrality is NOT a Core Value of Barbadians and hence demand that it be removed and not be part of the “grooming” of our children. After all, they are our children.

Dave Weekes