CARIBARENA Antigua & Barbuda

Minister of Gender Affairs Dr Jacqui Quinn-Leandro accused the church of being too silent on the problem of rape affecting the nation's women. During last Friday's parliamentary session, she called on the church to step up to the plate.

“I don't hear the outrage from our pulpits. …I don't hear the condemnation about what is happening with women in this country,” she said, urging the church to end its deafening silence. She said the church ought to speak out, as it has done on other matters.

She also spoke on the need for the church to play a more active role in the communities. She reminisced about years past, when the churches would be highly visible, moving from door to door, trying to impart Christian values and morals.

Member for St Mary's North Molwyn Joseph agreed, and noted there should be no fear of being critical of the local churches. He argued, “We must respect religious organisations, but as a Parliament, we have a responsibility to call upon all our social partners. They are an integral part of the development of our citizens.”

Dr Quinn-Leandro noted that women play an active role in campaigning and organizing for political parties and turned out in their numbers to vote on election day. She reminded her colleagues on both sides of the floor that the women of the nation therefore expect parliamentarians to represent their interests.

“If these rapes, and sexual assaults and domestic violence were being perpetrated on men in this country, we would have found a solution a long time ago," she said.

She also stressed that the communities have an important role to play, and should offer assistance to the police. She noted that in some areas which have proven to be hot spots for rape, the houses are quite close to each other. This, she said, makes it difficult to understand why the police are not getting more information from people within the community. 

She urged that individuals fulfill their duty as citizens in this respect, and called for a neighbourhood watch group to be established in every community.

The minister also suggested that women be allowed to own stun guns, pepper spray and mace. She noted that while there is the concern that these devices might fall into the hands of the criminally-minded, they would prove effective in helping women protect themselves.

 

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