Students debate on decriminalisation of homosexuality and commercial sex trade
By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter, SKNVibes.com
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Sashia Godet and Michelle Slack
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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – IN a heated debate among members of the Nevis Sixth Form Literary and Debating Society, the proposition won the judges’ nod on the moot “Combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean requires the decriminalisation of both homosexuality and the commercial sex trade”.
The debate, one of the planned activities of the Nevis HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit to mark World AIDS Day, was held last week at the Nevis Red Cross building.
Michelle Slack and Sashia Godet, who proposed the moot, tallied 558 points as against the opposition’s (Kris Liburd and Michelle McGrath) 488.
Godet, who was voted Best Speaker, argued that commercial sex was legal in Haiti and sex workers were required to pay taxes. “This income that is desperately needed by the Haitian government can be used to purchase condoms or other means of protection for sex workers or used for their treatment,” she said.
She said legalisation enabled criminal elements to be identified and removed from the sex industry, and added that it also protects women’s rights. “I stand resolute in supporting the moot which states: “Combating the spread of HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean requires the decriminalisation of both homosexuality and the commercial sex trade.”
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Audience
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Godet noted that people had a right to freedom of speech and activity, whether it is the acceptable norm or not. “The suppression of this right has led to mass disaster as it is obvious in various corners of the world.
“The Caribbean has one of the most thriving sex industries in the world. This just goes further to show that despite the fact that homosexuality and sex trade are illegal, both are widely practiced…and with these illegal practices have also come the spread of HIV and AIDS.”
She noted that siblings, spouses, aunts, uncles and even parents may find themselves engaging in homosexuality and sex trade.
“Decriminalisation of these two activities would allow them to be openly practiced. This will enable health officials to periodically monitor these persons as compulsory checkups will be instituted.
By doing this, individuals can be aware of their status and be guided to act accordingly in the interest of all other parties they come into contact with. Which is better, engaging in homosexuality and prostitution undercover and knowing you are spreading the disease to hundreds, or practicing these two activities openly while knowing your status and protecting yourself and others? You do the math,” Godet said.
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Kris Liburd and Michelle McGrath
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She said the preposition was not ignorant of the biblical position on homosexuality and sex trade, but practical solutions were called for as there were 19.2 percent of Caribbean nationals are engaged in the commercial sex trade while 17 percent are engaged in homosexuality.
Quoting from Russel Browne’s article ‘Prostitution and Morality’, Godet said, “With one of the largest incidence of HIV/AIDS infections in the world, the Caribbean region has to address head-on the factors driving this increase. This may call for unpopular remedies that are against societal norms and Christian beliefs such as legalisation of prostitution.”
Readers are reminded that the arguments submitted during the debate are not necessarily the official position of the Nevis Sixth Form Literary and Debating Society or students involved in the debate.
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