Letter of the Day | Are we now celebrating statutory rape?
Published:Wednesday | May 20, 2020 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
It is rather unfortunate that at a time like this, when our children’s advocates should be vocal, they are so silent. What am I speaking of, you may ask? It is the case of a young lady, at 18 years old, becoming pregnant by Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer’s 15-year-old son. This, according to our rule of law, constitutes statutory rape.
It is rather disheartening to witness the hypocrisy in discussion on the issue across various platforms, with many seeing it as something to be lauded. Had it been a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old male, we would have been singing a different sankey.
What is even more frightening is that the grandparents-to-be are so caught up in the celebration that they have hosted a baby shower for the pair. What has our society come to? Let us not be fooled, if this were to happen in other countries, that young lady would be facing criminal charges – and she should be.
I beg us also not to turn a blind eye to a situation that begs for a child to raise a child. In some of the social-media comments, several persons seem to find no issue with the situation, saying they couple would have enough money to care for the child. Money is not what raises a child. A child needs to be supported emotionally, educationally, psychologically and physically as well.
Young Palmer, in the hype of this all, might not understand the consequences of his decision, and we pray he may be fortunate enough not to experience any too grave.
Let us stop this cycle that supports children raising children, which, in more cases than we wish to admit, often results in paternal absenteeism. Let us not praise the foolish choices of our youth, but instead, teach our teens to make better choices, and if they should have sex, teach them to practise it in a safe manner.
ASHEKI SPOONER
Executive Director
Advocate for CHANGE Jamaica