Proposed Child Protection Bill reduces parental rights: Dujon

Human Rights Activist Felicia Dujon is not budging on the stance that the proposed Child Protection Bill in its current form reduces parental rights.

“We do not negotiate when it comes to the well-being of our children,” she said while being cheered by hundreds of Barbadians taking part in the ‘Watch Out My Children’ march in protest of the legislation Saturday morning.

Setting out from Kensington Oval just after 10 am, the group voiced their concerns loudly as they made their way through The City, chanting ‘Not Bout Hey’ and other slogans as they made their way to Independence Square for the rally.

She said that not only does the legislation give the Director of Child Protection a lot of authority, but described the bill itself as “ambiguous and arbitrary”.

“The bill speaks about the neglect of the child and the way it defines neglect of the child is by the parent as if we are the only ones that can neglect our children. What about the state? What about what they did in October when they violated the rights of our children…We had to stand up to them and we are taking them to court because they violated the right of our children,” she said, highlighting the civil suit being brought against government by several parents over last year’s controversial Inter-American Development Bank survey.

Member of the ‘Watch Out My Children’ group Reverend Ferdinand Nicholls suggested that Barbados was following the example being set by some international countries, while our own culture is at risk of being eroded.

“We are a country with our own sovereignty and our own culture. A culture is based on the belief systems of a people… If as a republic for the people, by the people, of the people is going to mean a decision that will change the social fabric of our country, you need to talk with the people,” he said.

Throughout the event, several entertainers took to the stage along with concerned parents and grandparents. Many of whom urged Barbadians to be active in protecting their children and to pray for the nation. (JB)