THE SENATE again suspended deliberations on legislation that would ensure equity between the sexes in relation to maintenance of former spouses after the break-up of a union. The amendments to the Maintenance Act have generated heated discussion in the public about whether a woman should be required to maintain a man.The debate yesterday entered its third week in the Senate with several Government and Opposition members making contributions.
Government Senator Norman Grant said: "This legislation, taken in the spirit of it could certainly promote better family life. It sets the bar for equality of the sexes. It sets the base for good social order."
But Leader of Opposition Business Senator Anthony Johnson argued in his contribution that another aspect of the legislation, which requires an individual to maintain his parents or grandparents, was dangerous.
"I have never noted that the treatment of grandparents is a problem in Jamaica," he said.
PROBLEMS CITED
Senator Johnson said the legislation would create a problem for a person who has not met his grandparents and is subject to persons "claiming" him.
However Government Senator Professor Trevor Munroe, arguing that since a requirement to maintain one's grandparents has existed in law since 1881 without any "mischief", it was hard to explain why false grandparents would "come out of the wood-work" now.
Opposition Senator Shirley Williams said that, since the legislation represented "social engineering", the Senate was "obliged to hear the comments of the public".
Before the suspension of the debate, Minister of Justice Senator A.J. Nicholson hinted that the Government had already taken aboard some of the recommendations made by Opposition Senator Dorothy Lightbourne last week.
