Are we really in the 21st century, or am I just awakening from slumber in the 18th century? This morning I awoke to the news that the leader of the Inter-Religious Organisation, Brother Harrypersad Maharaj, has confirmed that organisation has taken a decision not to support any amendment to the Marriage Act of Trinidad and Tobago with regard to the permissible age of marriage, or setting prisoners free on the basis of "mercy," or the legalisation of abortion.
This was a unanimous decision by the 17 members present and members who were not present contacted the IRO afterwards and expressed support for the decisions.
Before I pinch myself again, could Brother Maharaj disclose who these 17 persons are, their dates of birth, (I simply wish to confirm that they were all born after 1800) and the organisations that they represent?
Apparently these individuals all believe that 12-year-old children are more mature than 18 year olds, can better support their cultures, and our family and civic values.
Maharaj says that those views are supported by statistics but gives no figures.
The reality is that a 12-year-old female who is married to an adult is in reality a house slave (sexual and otherwise) for that person and merely conforms to the views of their elder owner.
I really cannot understand how this makes for a better, more progressive 21st century society.
With regard to the release without trial of persons who have already been incarcerated for a period longer than they would have served if convicted in a court of law, or whose legal sentence could have been a fine, what benefit is there to society to deprive these persons of their liberty for additional time (at $25,000 per month each) and to waste additional court time?
Archbishop Harris has already made his views clear on this subject. Either he was not at that meeting, or was not one of those who contacted the IRO in support afterwards. Brother Maharaj needs to clear this up for the public.
The long-overdue public debate on the issue of abortion seems to be finally gaining momentum. We can take the views of the IRO into consideration as we proceed, but the other two matters seem to have been largely settled already.
George Boxill
Lower Santa Cruz