ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) — Grenada’s main Opposition, the New National Party (NNP) says it will not be supporting legislation that reduces the Age of Civil Responsibility from 18 to 16 years to allow for minors to seek sexual and reproductive health treatment without permission from parents or guardians.

The Dickon Mitchell Government is seeking to change the consent age by amending the Age of Civil Legal Responsibility (Amendment) Act 2025 when Parliament meets on Thursday.

The main objective of the Bill is to insert a definition for “minister” and change the age of consent for sexual and reproductive health treatment.

But NNP and Opposition Leader, Emmalin Pierre said, “Under no circumstances will the Opposition join with the Grenadian Government tomorrow to support the passage of a Bill to amend the age for civil legal responsibility from 18 to 16 years, and in some cases to give the minister authority for a 12-year-old to be able to make certain decisions without the consent of a parent”.

In a video posted on her Facebook page, Pierre said that the Opposition believes that the legislation has far-reaching implications, and it requires public discourse, public engagement, as well as engagement with stakeholders.

“Therefore, we have called on the Government, we have engaged the Government side to present this Bill for first reading only, so as to allow all stakeholders to be part of this conversation. We are hoping that the Government decides not to proceed with the passage of this Bill tomorrow,” she said.

The proposed legislation appears to be an outcome of the Spotlight Initiatives, which was launched in 2020 and concluded in November 2023.

The focus was the reduction in prevalence and incidence of family violence through a legal review process. The review led to new legislation or amendments to existing legislation.

According to the Bill, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a minor who has attained the age of 16 years shall have the legal capacity to consent to any sexual or reproductive health treatment, including diagnostic procedures, and his or her consent shall be as effective as if that minor were of full age.

It further explains that, “Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the minister may, in consultation with the minister responsible for health, if he or she is satisfied that there is good cause to do so, by order published in the gazette, provide that a minor who has attained the age of 12 years but not yet attained the age of 16 years shall have the legal capacity to consent any sexual or reproductive health treatment specified in that order, including diagnostic procedures, and his or her consent shall be as effective as if that minor were of full age.”

The Bill notes that “sexual and reproductive health treatment” means any medical, surgical or counselling service or treatment provided to support the sexual and reproductive health of an individual, including access to contraceptive methods, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS.

It also provides for sexual health education, risk assessment and counselling.