By LETRE SWEETING
Tribune Staff Reporter
lsweeting@tribunemedia.net
SOCIAL Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe says House Speaker Patricia Deveaux is entitled to her views after she said she could not opine on marital rape because she is not married.
Speaker Deveaux’s comments attracted scathing criticisms.
She said because she is not married, she does not know how to “balance the word rape in a relationship”.
“It’s her views,” Mr Wilchcombe said. “Once we bring the legislation to Parliament, she will administer whatever conversation we have on the bills and then the members will vote.”
Mr Wilchcombe also responded to Bahamas Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander who, as a recent guest on The Nassau Guardian’s Morning Blend radio show, said outlawing marital rape would lead to civil unions rather than marriages.
“If we remove marriage out of the portion [of the Act], we begin to move marriage,” Bishop Fernander said. “Civil union will come in. Civil unions come in, it removes the term marriage.
“So, marriage has been replaced with civil unions (elsewhere) and we want to say that we’re not going to be the one to open up the door, even if you’re gonna say that’s not the door that’s being opened.”
Mr Fernander did not explain how this would happen.
“I’m not sure what he meant by civil unions, but that’s his view,” Mr Wilchcombe said. “In a democracy we have freedom of speech. All are entitled to their views. What we have to do is to ensure that whatever we do, there is widespread discussion, which I have been talking about.
“(That is) inclusive of the church, which is very important to get the views of the church, and the people of the country generally.
“And I’m not talking about just the people here in New Providence or Grand Bahama, but from Inagua to Bimini, because we have to move with progressive legislation that all people of the Bahamas can live with once it’s passed.”
When asked to respond to critics who have said the government is dragging its feet on decriminalising marital rape consultations, Mr Wilchcombe said: “I’m not sure dragging is the idea, but again criticism is a part of what we go through every day and it’s a part of the democracy we have.
“People will say what they want to say. At the end of the day history will absolve us by the work we do.”
Comments
birdiestrachan 1 year, 7 months ago
She would be dammed if she did or dammed if she did not, it is impossible to win with folks
mandela 1 year, 7 months ago
Just because she isn't married doesen't mean that she can't have an opinion on the subject. A cop out.
moncurcool 1 year, 7 months ago
A total cop out.
If that is the case, she needs to get out of Parliament, as there are a whole lot of things she doesn't do, but continues to speak on in Parliament.
Sickened 1 year, 7 months ago
She's as intelligent as she sounds.
Voltaire 1 year, 7 months ago
So then if I don't have any children, that means I can't denounce child abuse? What utter nonsense this woman allowed to escape from her mouth.
themessenger 1 year, 7 months ago
Ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise........................
carltonr61 1 year, 7 months ago
The Word of God in the Bibke says what it does about marriage wivesxand husbands. So we have these new gods rewriting their own version of humanity. These new laws make women apes in bed an an element of fear rather than intimacy. Men biologically while sleeping with his wife may get an erection. So now he has to stop then ask permission. This form of intimacy is not rape but turns a wife into an ape.
carltonr61 1 year, 7 months ago
Intimacy among young females interested in securing a male that will father her children and help ensure home security would so all in her power to make her bed satisfies her prospective husband and to encourage his sexual fulfillment remains with her pleasure. Imagine that female acting like can ape demanding he must ask first and it is her yes or no. No man will marry an ape.
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