On the matter of sterilisation
published: Wednesday | September 17, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
BEARING IN mind the nutty proposal from Mrs. Sharon Hay-Webster, it would be interesting to find out how many Members of Parliament and Senators, her colleagues and political leaders have children born out of wedlock.
It is interesting that in a so-called Black majority country, where forced breeding under slavery was an economic necessity, a "black person" can be talking about forced sterilisation.
If she wants ideas on this subject, Dr. Winston Davidson designed one of the best outreach programmes for Jamaica with community health aides working in all communities throughout Jamaica some years ago.
Back then, in the 1970s, under Prime Minister Michael Manley, democratic socialist ideals saw a willingness to explore non-traditional approaches to our social problems. But now, with a motley crew and political dunces who may or may not even read their own history, we are forced to regurgitate ideas fashioned by social fascists, including Thomas Malthus, Adolf Hitler and the leaders of the apartheid regimes in Southern Africa. Forced sterilisation was the norm too in the southern states of America, including Alabama and Missis-sippi, to kill black babies.
Our solution has to be found in taking a socio-cultural and historical approach; in designing education and outreach programmes starting with primary school children and including the communities.
