<p>During the House Sitting, the Bill to amend the Criminal Code as it relates to rape and other sexual offenses against children was passed with unanimous support. The Bill, which the Minister of Social Transformation, Anthony “Boots” Martinez introduced, also received resounding support from the Special Envoy for Women and Children, Kim Simplis Barrow, who was present for its passing into Law. The Minister of Education, Patrick Faber, explained in detail what the passage of the Bill means for child sexual offenders.</p>
<p><b><i>PATRICK FABER</i></b></p>
<p><b><i>“I listened as CEO Alpuche and I hope she doesn’t mind but I think she said it publicly today, so I am hoping that it’s okay, shared a story of a child that was finger raped, Mr. Speaker; that was molested with a finger and the charge of rape or any serious charge could not be brought against that simply because there was no legislation to cover that and I listened, as a little girl, who is at sixth form nor or UB, thanked the committee, thanked the ministry to put forward this piece of legislation because there was not enough legislation to nail this person down. Under this new legislation, Mr. Speaker, if a penis goes into a mouth or a vagina or an anus, it is now considered to be rape. It certainly is making it more difficult for these persons who are harming our children whether it be their parents, their loved ones or people from outside, there are people in this country who are causing irreversible harm to the children of this country and this piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker is moving us forward progressively to stop them dead in their tracks.”</i></b></p>
<p>The amendment to the Bill does not in any way make homosexuality legal, said Faber. He added that the Government will fight UNIBAM’s challenge on section 53 of the Laws which makes homosexuality illegal. Faber says that the government will go as far as possible to keep homosexuality a crime.</p>
<p><b><i>HON. PATRICK FABER</i></b></p>
<p><b><i>“The government is championing, let me break it down for people who don’t understand, to keep the law the way it is, to keep homosexuality, a crime in this country; that is what the government’s position is; it cannot be confused and be twisted any other way and Mr. Speaker, I believe it is safe to say, my boss will correct me if I can’t even though I have been saying it on public radio, that it is the desire of this administration under his leadership, if the courts decide that it is unconstitutional to challenge as far as we can go to keep it that way.”</i></b></p>
<p>Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dean Barrow explained how the allocation of over two million dollars for Christmas cheer will be channeled. The money is provided to electors through elected representatives and political officers. PM Barrow said that the funds will not be given out to any elected member.</p>
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<p><b><i>PATRICK FABER</i></b></p>
<p><b><i>“I listened as CEO Alpuche and I hope she doesn’t mind but I think she said it publicly today, so I am hoping that it’s okay, shared a story of a child that was finger raped, Mr. Speaker; that was molested with a finger and the charge of rape or any serious charge could not be brought against that simply because there was no legislation to cover that and I listened, as a little girl, who is at sixth form nor or UB, thanked the committee, thanked the ministry to put forward this piece of legislation because there was not enough legislation to nail this person down. Under this new legislation, Mr. Speaker, if a penis goes into a mouth or a vagina or an anus, it is now considered to be rape. It certainly is making it more difficult for these persons who are harming our children whether it be their parents, their loved ones or people from outside, there are people in this country who are causing irreversible harm to the children of this country and this piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker is moving us forward progressively to stop them dead in their tracks.”</i></b></p>
<p>The amendment to the Bill does not in any way make homosexuality legal, said Faber. He added that the Government will fight UNIBAM’s challenge on section 53 of the Laws which makes homosexuality illegal. Faber says that the government will go as far as possible to keep homosexuality a crime.</p>
<p><b><i>HON. PATRICK FABER</i></b></p>
<p><b><i>“The government is championing, let me break it down for people who don’t understand, to keep the law the way it is, to keep homosexuality, a crime in this country; that is what the government’s position is; it cannot be confused and be twisted any other way and Mr. Speaker, I believe it is safe to say, my boss will correct me if I can’t even though I have been saying it on public radio, that it is the desire of this administration under his leadership, if the courts decide that it is unconstitutional to challenge as far as we can go to keep it that way.”</i></b></p>
<p>Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dean Barrow explained how the allocation of over two million dollars for Christmas cheer will be channeled. The money is provided to electors through elected representatives and political officers. PM Barrow said that the funds will not be given out to any elected member.</p>
View the full article