PM: ABORTION IS PERSONAL CHOICE – In the case of rape it’s a ‘medical matter’ Davis ‘would have to consider’

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he believes abortion is a personal choice.

He said changing the law so someone who is raped can get an abortion is a “medical matter” he “would have to consider”.

Abortion in The Bahamas is currently illegal in all cases except to save a mother’s life, although underground activity exists.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe revealed last week that a woman gave abortion pills to her 11-year-old daughter after the girl’s stepfather allegedly raped her. The mother was charged with various offences this week, including causing harm for the purpose of committing an abortion.

 To some women’s rights advocates, the failure of the 11-year-old girl to legally get an abortion shows the law is draconian.

 When The Tribune described the case to the prime minister and asked if the government would consider amending the law, Mr Davis said: “That will be a medical matter for me to consider. For me, where the issue of abortion is a highly emotive one. It’s a personal choice, and we leave that to the persons who get impregnated, and I don’t want to impose my views on a personal choice. But suffice it to say, I will support a personal choice of anyone in respect of those matters.”

 Mr Munroe noted last week that the Progressive Liberal Party did not commit to amending abortion laws in its pre-election manifesto.

 “All social change should only come after serious consultation,” he said.

 In 2020, Dr Leon Dupuch, the past head of Princess Margaret Hospital’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, expressed alarm at the number of women and girls reporting to the hospital after an attempted abortion went wrong. He said many of the cases were tied to unsupervised use of pills.

 Last week, Alicia Wallace, director of Equality Bahamas, said The Bahamas should comply with CEDAW’s recommendation to decriminalise abortion in all cases.

 “In The Bahamas, gender-based violence is a public health crisis, with rape and incest –– reported and unreported –– happening in large numbers, sometimes resulting in pregnancy,” she said. “Survivors are not only women, but children, and it is ridiculous and inhumane to expect women or children to suffer through unwanted pregnancies and giving birth when it is medically possible to safely terminate pregnancy.”

 However, two prominent pastors, Mario Moxey of Bahamas Harvest Church and Reverend Dr Phillip McPhee, the recently appointed leader of the Bahamas Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention (BBMEC), said they would oppose amending abortion legislation.

 “We believe in the sanctity of life, and it’s important that we protect the life even in situations where there is rape,” Mr Moxey said.

Comments

hrysippus says...

It is just plain wrong that financially secure old men have the power to change laws which only affect young vunerable women and their reproductive choices.. The church should stay out of this and just keep collecting their followers' tithes.

Posted 23 August 2023, 11:43 a.m. Suggest removal

themessenger says...

Wrong!! these holier than thou Neanderthals should spend the tithes on supporting all the unwanted children and abused women in our twisted society instead of on their lavish lifestyles in pursuit of mammon!

Posted 23 August 2023, 12:57 p.m. Suggest removal

LastManStanding says...

A lot of clergy do as you describe, but the truth is that it's not their responsibility (nor anyone else's) to take care of someone else's child. Anyone old enough to be grinding knows full well that there is a non zero chance of pregnancy, even with contraceptives, when having sex. People need to grow the hell up and stop blaming religious groups, the government, mommy & daddy, God, and whoever else for their own stupid decisions. Western society has been structured around a man and woman in a committed relationship with each other providing a stable home for their offspring simply because that it is the best way to do it. Don't be surprised when you get shitty results trying anything different.

That being said, I think it is in bad taste that they chose to prosecute the mother in this instance and I wouldn't have done it personally considering the extenuating circumstances.

Posted 23 August 2023, 8:19 p.m. Suggest removal

themessenger says...

And having said all that, where does the traumatized and violated 11 year old fit into Davis, Moxey & Munroe's narrative and pontifications?
The rapist boyfriend and the mother should both be jailed, he for committing the act and she for allowing him to do it repeatedly.

Posted 24 August 2023, 11:59 a.m. Suggest removal

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