The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THIS is 2018. Women can run companies; they can be leaders of countries; they can be doctors or scientists. Women are independent and have the same ability, worth and dignity as men.

Sensible people realise this. There are others who cling to the old ways of thinking. They cite sexist religious texts as justification of male dominance.

We see this playing out here in the Bahamas as the government talks about finally dealing with marital rape. Currently, if you are legally separated from a woman you could be charged with raping her. If you are in a normal marriage and are together you cannot be charged with raping her.

Our law not recognizing marital rape in ongoing relationships is foolishness. If a man comes home, beats up his wife, tears off her clothes and has sex with her without her consent that is rape. Any person who thinks that is okay is a sick person.

This government has drafted a marital rape law. I’m happy it has. What it next needs to do is have a brief consultation period with the community, bring it to Parliament after the views of Bahamians have been considered, pass it and then make it law.

We have talked about this issue too long. The people who have a problem with this have the views of a dying past. You can’t convince them. Don’t waste your time trying to. The government should only consult with people who want to offer suggestions to make the proposed law better.

The last time this law was proposed was during the Ingraham administration. It backed down after some religious leaders raised concerns. The Minnis administration should not back down. Right is right and wrong is wrong.

Compassionate and caring people want women to have the same protection of the law in marriage as they have outside of it. This issue is simple and not controversial.

Those who think a woman is owned by her husband and he could do with her as he likes once he marries her have perverted minds. There is no god who gives men ownership of women. In our secular society we do not believe in such things.

We are at the end of the second decade of the 21st century. We must move on from this issue. There is no reason why the government should not have the new martial rape law in place by the end of the second quarter of 2018.

Pass the law. Let those who think it okay to rape their wives complain on the sideline. They are on the wrong side of history.

DARWIN R LUTHER

Nassau,

January 26, 2018.