Conflicting views, Minister Golding
Dear Editor,
I wish to thank the Observer for constantly updating Jamaicans on the Government’s actions regarding review of the buggery law as evidenced by the article ‘Sex laws review’ in the Daily Observer of Friday, June 6, 2014. The article states that, in December last year, Senator Golding had dialogue with representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assist with the case for the reform of the provisions for intimacy in private among consenting adults, with particular focus on public health disadvantages and the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, Senator Golding’s discussions seem to be at variance with statements from officials at the Ministry of Health.
A senior official at the MOH recently stated that: “There is no link between anti-buggery laws and HIV prevalence rates in any country.” Here we have it. Both views cannot be right; either the anti-buggery law is hindering the HIV/AIDS fight or the law is not a hindrance.
I would like to believe that the competent body to determine whether or not a particular law is impacting on the health care that Jamaicans receive is the Ministry of Health. It is unacceptable for our government officials to be sharing information with the international community which is contradictory to that coming from the MOH.
It is also being stated by gay rights activists and some sections of academia and the media that the anti-buggery law is preventing vulnerable groups from getting access to needed health care. However, the MOH is again discounting this claim. In an article in the Jamaica Observer, May 26 it stated: “HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSMs) now experience little or no barrier in accessing services at the islands public health facilities despite Jamaica’s strong buggery laws which criminalise the act.”
Jamaicans are asking for honesty from the Government in this ongoing debate. The Government should not seek to create a link between the anti-buggery law and HIV prevalence rate where none exists.
Marsha Thomas
marshburns@hotmail.com