DEAR CHRISTINE, I AM EMPLOYED at a health institution. While I am not in the mainstream of health care, I am aware of the various cases which come in.
Christine, I am appalled and disgusted at the fact that our underage teenaged girls are getting pregnant and the men – some of them big, hard-back men – who get them pregnant are not charged with statutory rape.
Often teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15 turn up pregnant or choose to have abortions.
Sometimes their parents, aunts, sisters and nieces are the ones accompanying them to clinic or are with them when they are in labour. There is hardly “a man” to hold their hands; or rather, I should say, “the baby father” never comes around, visits or assists with any aspect of the pregnancy.
Unwanted children
Why are they being allowed to get off scot free while the same parents and other family members are forced to raise these “unwanted children”? It’s not fair to the children or to these teenagers.
Is statutory rape [having sex with a child under the age of 16] not considered a crime here?
Who decides when it is and when it is not?
– CONCERNED ADULT
Dear Concerned Adult,
Before I share my thoughts about this matter, please visit the Internet or ask an attorney at law to explain what the words selective enforcement means.
It will help you understand how some aspects of law enforcement work.
Now to the point. You have raised a very important question and concern. And yes, statutory rape is a crime – a serious one at that.
Teenage pregnancy is nothing new, however, many cases can be complicated.
In fact, police or child care officials cannot follow through on cases for various reasons.
Here are some: (a) In many instances, no statutory rape charges are filed by parents/guardians; (b) Some of these teenagers get pregnant for their own relatives – fathers, uncles, stepfathers – and again, to hide shame, no charges are filed. (c) There are instances where some of the men who impregnate them are actually living with them under the same roof as the parent – usually the mother. These men help to support the households, so again, no charges can be filed. (d) Also, some parents are “pimps” for their children. They knowingly sell their children for sex and pocket some of the “profit” as a means of “getting by”.
Of course, there are the more innocent cases, where an underage teenaged girl may fool around with a teenager her own age and end up pregnant.
In such cases, there is not much the parents can do but help to “support the child”.
There are a lot of variations to teenage pregnancy. There are also cases where the teenager is actually “raped” and the decision is made to keep the child, rather than have it aborted.
Talk and gossip
While some educational institutions have allowed teenagers to return to school after giving birth, not all teenagers can face the trauma associated with “the talk” and gossip that will ensue.
In order to end up right, you first have to start right.
I believe too many parents spend little or no time at all speaking to their children about the dangers of early sex, unprotected sex, or why they should practise abstinence.
The church and school should also play greater roles in sex education.
An important point is that a high number of teenagers worldwide become teenaged mums because of their rebellious ways and early introduction to drugs. Sometimes, no amount of talking helps. That’s the truth.
Having said all that, significant blame must be placed on “adult men” who solicit sex from teenaged girls.
While there is a statutory rape law, it is not enforced as it should be. But then again, there is also a law which says prostitution is illegal in Barbados. Is it really? Do you get the picture?
I have no figures to determine how many cases of statutory rape are brought before the courts on a yearly basis. Maybe someone with that knowledge can enlighten us all.
What I do believe is that statutory rape charges should be taken seriously and any parent who accepts “hush money” at the detriment of their pregnant minor should also be charged. Full stop! Practically speaking though, this won’t happen in “this little paradise”.
– CHRISTINE