THE eighth sitting of the National Youth Parliament (NYP) yesterday was punctuated by lively presentations, heated debate and occasional heckling from both sides of the House in the conference room of Buddy’s International Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

During the one-day assembly, parliamentarians, drawn from across the country, were engaged in three main discourses on:
an Opposition motion titled ‘The current HIV/AIDS strategies are retarding progress in the fight against the disease’;a Government bill proposing that ‘The marital rape exemption should not be abolished and the definition of rape should not be widened and ‘Guyana’s rapidly increasing development contributes to the problem of climate change which has a devastating impact on our existence.’
Arguments on the Government proposal about marital rape and the widening of its definition saw exchanges on the 10-minute rule and backbenchers on both sides raised concerns over several matters in society.

The presenters and topics addressed during the 10 minutes presentations were: Abortion’, raised by Opposition member Teanna Gemon‘Government should immediately implement education on foreign languages in schools, starting at the primary level’ proposed by Government representative Gaitri Singh;
‘Teenage Pregnancy’ introduced by Opposition member Jamella Lowe;
‘Government should immediately implement protocols for the assistance and development of children who are financially unable to complete their high school education, by Government representative Stacy Hosea;
‘Child Abuse’ by Opposition member Annastacia Christopher and
‘National Service should be reintroduced in Guyana’ by Keisha Clarke, representing the Government.
Opposition Leader Jennel Reid, speaking on HIV/AIDS, said Government’s strategy to address the deadly disease that affects close to 2.5 per cent of the local population is ineffective.

She argued that preventative measures accompanied by a comprehensive plan to adequately redress the scourge of discrimination and stigmatisation leaves much to be desired.

Reid posited that the existing strategies to combat the affliction do not represent a global perspective in eradicating the problem and the existing framework is doomed to failure.

For the Government, Joel Ally countered that billions of dollars have been spent, over years, to combat the disease and this has resulted in the treatment of infected persons being significantly improved.

He said Government has initiated numerous campaigns, including the setting up of HIV/AIDS centres for voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) throughout the country.

In addition, Ally said the ongoing drive, themed ‘Respect Yourself, Protect Yourself’, does not discriminate nor stigmatise anyone.

He maintained that Opposition claims, that the Administration’s strategies to combat the disease, are untenable because Government is actively promoting abstenance among youths and persons who cannot live up to expectations are being urged to use condoms.

Prime Minister Teesha Mohabeer endorsed the non-abolition of rape exemption and the widening of the definition of the offence, stating that married couples have an obligation to exercise their matrimonial rights and the term rape is more an oxymoron and contradictory.

She said the law provides for women who are ill-treated by their husbands to file for separation in the High Court and rape is an act committed by a stranger without the woman’s consent.

However, Opposition member Paul Phillips, assuming the Health Minister portfolio, submitted that the exemption should be abolished because the problem has, for too long, been hidden under the carpet and has secretly stained the moral and social fabric of society.

He emphasised that, to have sex with a woman without her consent, irrespective of who she is, constitutes rape and, on that premise, the legislation would do great social injustice to women.

Phillips observed that vaginal, anal and oral sex or penetration of those parts without consent should be classified as rape and said the definition 10 years ago is not the view of society today.

However, for the Government, Paul Camacho said the propositions by Phillips on the extension of how to define rape is grossly inaccurate and nonsensical as it is not supported by any empirical study.

NYP Executive Director Kwame McKoy told the Guyana Chronicle that the one-day conversation is aimed at developing tolerance and appreciation among young people through the exchange of views.

He said that is pivotal to creating harmonious understanding among the different cultures for societal advancement.

Mc Koy, while acknowledging that the NYP has progressed significantly since its inception eight years ago, admitted there has never been full representation from all the Regions.
He said that and several other issues will be addressed in a retreat.