Rise in risky sex among older adults alarms minister

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey has sounded the alarm over an increase in unsafe sexual practices among older adults, amid growing concerns about discrimination.

Speaking to journalists during Friday’s ECO Fit Youth Finale at Wildey Great House, Humphrey acknowledged concerns raised by the Ministry of Health, noting that while official statistics are yet to be released, anecdotal evidence points to a concerning trend.

“While we have not seen the official statistics, I’ve heard the concerns raised by the Ministry of Health, and we have enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that persons are again engaging in very reckless sexual behaviour and practices, particularly among the older population,” he said.

“The joys of modern medicine allow people to do things that they could not do a few years ago. What is coming out in the evidence from our conversations [is] some people [who were] not used to protection are now back in the game but it’s a different time. So I want to encourage persons who are engaging in certain activities to just protect themselves.”

Beyond the health risk, the minister noted that there was a wider issue concerning the growing trend of discrimination in Barbadian society. He criticised the continued stigma against the elderly, persons with disabilities, children from lowincome backgrounds, and those living with HIV.

He said: “We’ve seen a level of discrimination in Barbados now on every level; persons discriminate against the elderly, persons discriminate against persons with disabilities, people discriminate against children who they think come from poor backgrounds and they discriminate against people who have HIV.

“There is too much discrimination in a country whose history is built on people of colour being discriminated against. We have to be mature as we build out… be careful in the way we treat our bodies, but when certain things happen we have to respect the people whose circumstances have led them to it.” (SB)