Responding to Rev Gideon Cecil

Jun 24, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,
Rev Gideon Cecil wonders if the British High Commissioner (not Ambassador, Rev. Commonwealth countries send High Commissioners to each other; that is why the office is called a High Commission, not an Embassy) has any idea about the laws in our country. I imagine he might, Rev., since many of our laws like the law which criminalizes (male) homosexuality came to us from the U.K., where “buggery” was criminalized in the 19th century. (Female homosexuality was not criminalized. On the contrary, any respectable single female could not live alone – she was expected to have a female residing with her. How many of these companions were lesbian relationships we will never know). I find it somewhat ironic, Rev., that as you invoke our now independent status and our right to make our own laws, you are depending on a colonial era law in support of your case.
And why do you, Rev. Cecil, think that the revocation of laws which criminalize male homosexuality will permit the raping of boys by adult men? Under our present laws, sexual activity between two consenting adults of the opposite sex is perfectly legal; but sexual activity between an adult and a child (statutory rape) is illegal, and so is non-consensual sex with an adult (rape). I am not aware that anybody is suggesting that the laws which prohibit such behaviours should be changed.

Pat Robinson Commissiong

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