IS MAKING the age of consent 16 years in the best interest of our young women, or is this actually a hidden agenda – just another ploy to protect our law-breaking businessmen/big boys?

If the age is raised to 18 years, it would mean a larger percentage of our minor citizens will be protected against predators and it would establish the law that anyone proven to have or had sex with a minor (below 18 years) can and will be charged according to the law.

Allowing the age of consent to be 16 years will not protect our young women, especially the school dropouts.

Are the authorities actually insinuating that it is okay to go ahead and have sex once you have attained the age of consent?

I ask members of the Cabinet when they consider this age of consent to think of our young women as if they were their daughters.

What would be their views then? Will they allow their daughters to have sex at age 16, if they were aware that they may be sexually active?

They must also examine the fact that though these young women’s bodies may be ‘physically ready’ they are definitely not psychologically ready.

Consider the following facts:

1. The number of babies who will be born out of wedlock

2. More single mothers

3. Rise in birth defects

4. A bigger strain on the Ministry of Social Services’ budget for they will have to provide even more public assistance.

Another important question: Will this law only be ordained to the minor females of this country or will it also be a protection for our minor males? Shouldn’t they also be considered?

It should be noted that even though North America has rights for gays, it also has a law that says sex with someone below 18 years is a criminal offence.

I agree that we cannot prevent the young citizens of our country from becoming sexually active but we can protect more of them.

Having the age of consent raised to 18 years is one giant step in this direction.

We should also enact a law to charge both parties who are involved, once at least one of the partners is below 18 years of age.

Remember drivers licences are only issued to those who are 18 years and older and this means that anyone who has not attained the age of 18 years caught driving any motor vehicle will be charged.

Well, we can inculcate this law also in the age of consent – so that anyone below 18 who can be proven to be sexually active, is liable to be charged as well as the other partner/s engaged in this activity.

This will be a huge step in cutting the growth of our AIDS population.

A ballot on the age of consent should be cast: Age 16 against Age 18.

I know that all intelligent citizens will opt for the age of 18.
JULIET DUKHI