Submission 69

Sent: Saturday, November 5, 2022
To: ConstitutionalReform
Subject: submission to Constitution Reform Commission

November 5, 2022.

The Director General Constitutional Reform

Dear Sir/ Madam,
Greetings. Having done an overview of the present Construction of Barbados, I

found it to be a well drafted document. One section which stood out as being in need of reform with respect to current times; is in Chapter 3 "Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual", sub heading #13, "Detaining a person", line (f), which suggest that a person under the age of 21, can be detained at the request of a parent or guardian, for the purpose of his/her education or welfare. As it stands, for many activities, including Voting and sexual consent, the age of 18 has become law, therefore our young Citizens should be vigorously guided towards higher education but there should not be a law, which suggest that they could be "detained" at the request of a parent or guardian for not pursuing education beyond the age of eighteen. So age 18, should be applied to the REVISON of this section of our Constitution.

On another point, still in Chapter 3, # 11, again referring to the Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual that should not be diminished based on "race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed or sex". My focus is specifically the phrase, "creed or sex", and "sex" is the absolute focus here because of the current international fad of Gender Transitioning. Although Barbados has not yet been bombarded with legal issues, with respect to persons who have Medically changed their Gender, it is on our door step. This is the time we need to be proactive, so that the protections to be afforded to ADULTS making such a choice, are in place, and that the RESPONSIBILITIES of Medically Transitioned adults are clearly stated. Chiefly, that full disclosure of Transition be made to an intended intimate partner. Persons should not feel tricked or be told after the fact. This late reveal have been linked to a number of murders of Transgender persons by intimate partners who felt deceived. As it stands, persons who choose the "gay" life style, their deportment is superficial with make-up and cross dressing; people who chooses these interactions, do so with both parties being consenting and aware. But with the Medical Transgender process, the door is wide open for deception and the repercussions that can follow, upon realization of deception in such intimate settings. So Barbados needs to be proactive and put a Full disclosure requirement, in our Laws. Have it posted in Bars, just as the legal drinking age is posted, that locals and visitors alike, interact in a way that respects consent and disclosure with integrity.

A substantial penalty would also be needed for failure to disclose Transgender status to an intended intimate partner. The penalty information should also be included on the notices posted in Bars and night Clubs.

Still on the subject of Medical Transgender procedures, we need to be even more proactive on this subject with regards to children. This fight is currently being fought after the fact, in the

international arena. Medical Transgender procedures are monumental life changing decisions, which should only be made by the adult, 21 years old or older. That is when people are mature enough to take responsibility for such a decision. Therefore medications that function as Puberty blockers, towards childhood gender transition, should be illegal in Barbados. If minors have same-sex interactions in their age group, that is with-in their freedom of choice, whether they grow out of experimentation, only time will tell. But children must be protected from Medical processes towards permanent gender change. Such decisions should only be made in the emotional maturity of adulthood, while grasping the responsibilities that would go with such a change. With this aspect of Child protection, there would also be a need to stipulate penalties for any breech of Child Gender Protection. This concludes my submission.

Yours truly,