Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte has declared that she will not support any push to legalise abortion in Jamaica.

Malahoo Forte made her position known on Tuesday during her contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives. She provided an update on the process to reform the country’s constitution, and, while the abortion issue was not in her speech, stated that her decision not to support legalisation was deeply personal.

“I say to people that changing the law for abortion will never be my platform for the simple reason that my mother told me that when she was pregnant with me, at every stage of her pregnancy she was told to abort me, every stage,” Malahoo Forte shared.

“She was told that if she didn’t abort me she would die or I would die, or we would be ill. I, in honour of my mother, and respect for my own life, take a certain position,” she added.

The minister acknowledged that other persons may hold different positions on abortion.

“I’m just saying, me, from my own history, my own narrative, (the) circumstances around my own life, the abortion issue is not mine, let me just make it clear,” she said.