THE EDITOR, Sir:
RE: SEVEN-YEAR-old baby infected with HIV by stepfather. (The Gleaner, May 5):
Ban yuh belly and bawl, a little baby has been infected with HIV by her stepfather and the monster has been rewarded with a sentence of 15 years. I am calling for change in the legislation, it should have been a life sentence, it is only just. This man knew what he was doing, he knew it was wrong, he knew that he was destroying this child as a person. Knowing that he was HIV-positive he also knew that he had given the baby a death sentence and yet he is likely to be out on parole doing the same thing all over again. Now that she is HIV-positive, who will care for her? How will medication be provided for her? How will she fare?
I read the newspapers everyday and almost every day there is a report of a child who has been consistently subjected to the horror of being a sexual thing by a father figure. The monster who has destroyed this little baby was reckless and callous and completely indifferent to the destruction being wrought upon the child, who is incapable of protecting herself.
Is the life of this child not precious? Is her life not sacred, a gift from God? Where is the justice for this little baby?
We need to be righteously outraged in this country, we need to feel the fire in our bellies.
Imagine how grateful that child will be when he or she is older. Imagine how much better rather than bitter and broken that child will be. Please let us all call The Gleaner to see how we can help the baby. Christians, let us pray for this baby and let us also see what we can do to help this baby and others.
I am, etc.,
MELESIA SUTHERLAND
CAMPBELL
regaffairs@cwjamaica.com
