![]() | Priorités de réduction dans le secteur de l'agriculture de quelques nations caraïbes. ; Mitigation priorities in the agricultural sector of some caribbean nations Auteur(s) : Gob, Rosaire Gouveia, Grégory Année de publication : Loading the player... Éditeur(s) : INRA : Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique Université des Antilles. Service commun de la documentation Extrait de : 52e congrès annuel de la Société caribéenne des plantes alimentaires / 52nd annual meeting of the Caribbean food crops society (CFCS), du 10 au 16 juillet 2016. INRA, CFCS Description : In this study the greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) profiles in the agriculture sector of some Caribbean nations are reviewed and strategies proposed to mitigate climate change are assessed. Twenty-four (24) Caribbean nations were included in an initial assessment to determine their mean GHG emissions in CO2eq over the period 1990-2011 and then ranked according to a range of emission metrics into the highest and lowest emitters. While Caribbean nations have extremely low absolute emissions compared to most other countries/regions, relative to human population, land area and agricultural production, values in the region are comparable to the rest of the world including some of the most populated and largest countries. Eight (8) of the highest emitters were then selected and their National Communications (NC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) were reviewed (and other sources in the case of Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico) to determine their mitigation priorities. Of the eight, only Guyana, Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico have documented any significant intent to mitigate GHG in agriculture. None however, reviewed their GHG emissions other than in absolute terms. Emissions relative to production (emission/production ratio or intensity ratio) can be particularly useful in providing a better understanding of the areas where mitigation should be prioritized. These mitigation priorities are also more likely to enhance food security goals and also contribute to climate change adaptation. Dans cette étude les profils de l'émission de gaz participant à l'effet de serre (GHGE) dans le secteur d'agriculture de quelques nations des Caraïbes sont passés en revue et des stratégies proposées pour atténuer le changement climatique sont évaluées. Vingt-quatre (24) nations des Caraïbes ont été incluses dans une première évaluation pour déterminer leurs émissions moyennes de GHG dans CO2eq au cours de la période 1990-2011 et puis rangées selon une gamme de la métrique d'émission dans les plus hauts et plus bas émetteurs. Tandis que les nations des Caraïbes ont extrêmement - les basses émissions absolues comparées à la plupart des autres pays/régions, relativement à la population humaine, la région terrestre et la production agricole, valeurs dans la région sont comparables au reste du monde comprenant certains des pays les plus peuplés et les plus grands. Huit (8) des plus hauts émetteurs ont été alors sélectionnés et leurs communications nationales (OR) à la convention-cadre des Nations Unies sur le changement climatique (UNFCCC) ont été passées en revue (et d'autres sources dans le cas de la Guadeloupe et du Porto Rico) pour déterminer leurs priorités de réduction. Des huit, seulement la Guyane, la Guadeloupe et le Porto Rico ont documenté n'importe quelle intention significative pour atténuer GHG dans l'agriculture. Aucun cependant, passé en revue leurs émissions de GHG autres qu'en des termes absolus. À production relative d'émissions (rapport d'émission/production ou rapport d'intensité) peut être particulièrement utile en fournissant une meilleure compréhension des secteurs où la réduction devrait être donnée la priorité. Ces priorités de réduction sont également pour augmenter des buts de sécurité de nourriture et pour contribuer également à l'adaptation de changement climatique. Siècle(s) traité(s) : 21 Droits : CC-BY-NC-ND - Attribution - Pas d'utilisation commerciale - Pas de modification Permalien : http://www.manioc.org/fichiers/V16246 V16246 | Partager Voir aussi Agriculture biologique Système de culture (agriculture) Agriculture Trinité-et-Tobago Etats-Unis d'Amérique ; Télécharger ![]() |
![]() | Mer des Caraïbes et paysages du commerce illégal : les routes de la contrebande entre les îles, les baies et le réseau hydrographique des Juifs et des nouveaux Chrétiens Auteur(s) : Cwik, Christian Année de publication : Loading the player... Éditeur(s) : Université des Antilles AIHP-GEODE : Archéologie Industrielle, Histoire, Patrimoine/Géographie- Développement Environnement de la Caraïbe HARCMAR : Histoire et Archéologie Maritimes des Petites Antilles Extrait de : "Entre exclusif et contrebande, le commerce colonial aux Antilles XVIIe-début XIXe siècle" : journées d'étude, du 24 au 26 octobre 2019. Université des Antilles Description : The majority of maritime trade within the Caribbean has been based on smuggling since the beginning of European influenced trade in this area. With the establishment of Non-Iberian colonies such as English, French, Dutch, German and Danish during the 17th century also Jewish merchants seeped into the illegal markets with sugarcane, tobacco, slaves, salt, vanilla etc. This lecture would like to highlight the illicit networks of Jewish and New Christian traders based on their clandestine Caribbean routes by means of Braudelian methods during 1670 and 1730. Seemingly insignificant ports and coastal communities as well as bays have become global cargo hubs due to these extensive networks. The majority of these places have been located in the Caribbean Frontier, which has been often dominated by Indians, escaped slaves, refugees, pirates and other outlaws. The role of Jews as middlemen between legal and illegal trade will be another focus of this lecture. Droits : CC-BY-NC-ND - Attribution - Pas d'utilisation commerciale - Pas de modification Permalien : http://www.manioc.org/fichiers/V19108 V19108 | Partager |
![]() | Applying C-13 techniques in exploring the carbon sequestration potential of limed acid soils fromt Trinidad ; Application des techniques C-13 à l'exploration du potentiel de séquestration du carbone des sols acides calcaires de Trinidad Auteur(s) : Gouveia, Grégory Année de publication : Loading the player... Éditeur(s) : University of West Indies, Trinidad &Tobago Université des Antilles. Service commun de la documentation Extrait de : 52e congrès annuel de la Société caribéenne des plantes alimentaires / 52nd annual meeting of the Caribbean food crops society (CFCS), du 10 au 16 juillet 2016. INRA, CFCS Description : Carbon dioxide (CO2) accounts for the largest proportion (74%) of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally, with agricultural activities contributing approximately 25% of this gas. Opportunities to reduce the emissions in the sector can therefore contribute significantly to mitigating global climate change. Ag-lime is used extensively to alleviate problems of soil acidity and the potential for this material to contribute to C sequestration in soils is gaining interest among researchers. A laboratory experiment using C-13 isotopic labelling techniques was therefore established to answer the following questions: 1) Is there a potential for sequestering C using ag-lime in Trinidad acid soils? 2) Does enhancing soil microbial respiration by applying labile organic amendments enhance the C sequestration potential of ag-lime? 3) Are lime-derived C (LDC) estimates from non-isotopic difference technique comparable to that from the C- 13 isotopic labelling technique? The results ascertained for the study showed significant (P<0.05) differences between the LDC estimates from the two techniques with the non-isotopic techniques yielding higher estimates. Over the 32- day experiment, between 16.4 to 85.4% of the ag-lime C was released as CO2 with values being lower for the Piarco soil. The LDC in the CO2 was also significantly (P<0.05) lower for the poultry litter treatments comparison to the other organic amendments for the Piarco soil but not the Nariva soil. This effect may not have been as a result of an enhancement of the carbon sequestration potential of the ag-lime due to an elevation in soil microbial respiration since the LDC in the glucose-amended soils did not differ significantly from the no-amendment control soils. Siècle(s) traité(s) : 21 Droits : CC-BY-NC-ND - Attribution - Pas d'utilisation commerciale - Pas de modification Permalien : http://www.manioc.org/fichiers/V16308 V16308 | Partager |
![]() | Fertigating lettuce (Lactuca sativa L..) using compost tea ; Fertigant la laitue (Lactuca sativa L ..) en utilisant le thé de compost Auteur(s) : Eudoxie, Gaius Année de publication : Loading the player... Éditeur(s) : Université des Antilles. Service commun de la documentation University of West Indies, Trinidad &Tobago Extrait de : 52e congrès annuel de la Société caribéenne des plantes alimentaires / 52nd annual meeting of the Caribbean food crops society (CFCS), du 10 au 16 juillet 2016. INRA, CFCS Description : Crop nutrient management is a critical component of productivity and quality. Commercial horticulture has relied almost exclusively on inorganic nutrient sources to satisfy plant nutritional requirements. Compost tea represents a sustainable alternative technology but its use has not been extensively researched. A factorial experiment was conducted subjecting lettuce plants to four increasing concentrations of compost tea; 0, 5, 10 and 20 % (m/v) applied at either 100 or 200 cm3 plant-1 day-1, for 30 days. At the end of the trial, measurements were made of leaf area (LA), yield, shoot and root dry mass (DM), root to shoot ratio, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents of shoots and roots. Compost tea concentration significantly (P < 0.05) affected all growth indices showing a similar pattern. Increasing concentration up to 10 % (m/v), positively improved growth and yield above the control. Increasing further to 20 % (m/v) reduced LA, yield and dry mass. For these variables, applying compost tea at 200 cm3 plant-1 day-1 resulted in a better response. Increasing concentration of compost tea showed a directly proportional relationship to shoot and root N content. However, the effect was non-significant for P. Yield and shoot DM were affected by the combination of compost tea concentration and application rate. Similar patterns of increasing yield were seen for increasing concentration within both rates however, the differences were significant for all concentrations at the higher application rate. Application of 200 cm3, 5 % compost tea resulted in the greatest yield, shoot and root DM. In addition to root DM, root surface area was significantly correlated with yield and shoot DM. Compost tea used at appropriate concentrations improved root growth and lettuce productivity. Siècle(s) traité(s) : 21 Droits : CC-BY-NC-ND - Attribution - Pas d'utilisation commerciale - Pas de modification Permalien : http://www.manioc.org/fichiers/V16281 V16281 | Partager |
![]() | Responses to the sovereignty/vulnerability/development dilemmas : small territories and regional organization in the Caribbean Auteur(s) : Byron, Jessica Lewis, Patsy Année de publication : Loading the player... Éditeur(s) : CRPLC : Centre de Recherche sur les Pouvoirs Locaux dans la Caraïbe Extrait de : "Les entités infra-étatiques et les organisations de coopération et d'intégration régionales" : colloque international, les 25 et 26 mars 2013. Université des Antilles et de la Guyane Description : "The Americas have a rich history of regional cooperation. In the Caribbean Basin, however, mechanisms for regional cooperation and/or integration have emerged which have sought to transcend the issues of legal status and to address common questions of socio-economic development, democratic institutions and functions. Three regional grouping fall into this category: the Caribbean Community (1937), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (1981) and the Association of Caribbean States (1994). This paper will do a comparative survey and analysis of the three organizations. The second part of the paper will examine the specific areas of greatest participation by the non-independent members in the activities of specific regional organizations. The conclusion addresses contemporary themes such as the dynamics of political/constitutional evolution which affect the membership of non-independent territories." Siècle(s) traité(s) : 21 Droits : CC-BY-NC-ND - Attribution - Pas d'utilisation commerciale - Pas de modification Permalien : http://www.manioc.org/fichiers/V13127 V13127 | Partager |
![]() | Ordonance 11 florial Auteur(s) : Armee de saint domingue Résumé : (Funding) Support for the development of the technical infrastructure and partner training provided by the United States Department of Education TICFIA program. Haiti -- Hispaniola -- Caribbean CAP-HAITIEN Droits : All rights reserved by the source institution. 12398 | Partager |
![]() | President Alexandre Petion (9 mars 1807 - 29 mars 1818) Auteur(s) : Archives Nationales d'Haiti Éditeur(s) : Archives Nationales d'Haiti Archives Nationales d'Haiti Résumé : (Funding) Support for the development of the technical infrastructure and partner training provided by the United States Department of Education TICFIA program. Haiti -- Caribbean Droits : All rights reserved by the source institution. | Partager |
![]() | Président d'Haïti, Tancrede Auguste Éditeur(s) : Archives Nationales d'Haïti Archives Nationales d'Haïti Résumé : (Funding) Support for the development of the technical infrastructure and partner training provided by the United States Department of Education TICFIA program. Haiti -- Hispaniola -- Caribbean Droits : All rights reserved by the source institution. | Partager |
![]() | Dumarsais Estimé, président d'Haïti (16 aout 1946 - 10 mai 1950) Auteur(s) : Archives Nationales d'Haiti Éditeur(s) : Archives Nationales d'Haiti Archives Nationales d'Haiti Résumé : (Funding) Support for the development of the technical infrastructure and partner training provided by the United States Department of Education TICFIA program. Haiti -- Caribbean Droits : All rights reserved by the source institution. | Partager |
![]() | Rade Leogane Auteur(s) : M.Moreau de St. Mery | Partager |
![]() | Jamaica and the Great War Auteur(s) : de Lisser, Herbert G. Éditeur(s) : Gleaner Co. Gleaner Co. ( Kingston, Jamaica ) Résumé : (Biographical) From Wikipedia for H. G. de Lisser, from 29 June 2013: Herbert George de Lisser CMG (9 December 1878 - 19 May 1944) was a Jamaican journalist and author. He has been called "one of the most conspicuous figures in the history of West Indian literature". De Lisser was born in Falmouth, Jamaica, and attended William Morrison's Collegiate School in Kingston. He started work at the Institute of Jamaica at the age of 14. Three years later he joined the Jamaica Daily Gleaner, of which his father was editor, as a proofreader, and two years later became a reporter on the Jamaica Times. In 1903, De Lisser became assistant editor of the Gleaner and was editor within the year. He wrote several articles for the paper every day. He also produced a novel or non-fiction book every year, beginning in 1913 with Jane: A Story of Jamaica, significant for being the first West Indian novel to have a central black character. Another famous novel of his, The White Witch of Rosehall (1929), is linked to a legend of a haunting in Jamaica. De Lisser also wrote several plays. In December 1920 he began publishing an annual magazine, Planters' Punch. De Lisser devoted much time and effort to the revival of the Jamaican sugar industry and represented Jamaica at a number of sugar conferences around the world. He was also general secretary of the Jamaica Imperial Association, honorary president of the Jamaica Press Association, and chairman of the West Indian section of the Empire Press Union. He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1920 New Year Honours. Jamaica -- Caribbean Droits : All rights reserved by the source institution. 22160041 http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00081175/00001 | Partager |
![]() | The natural history of Barbados. In ten books. Auteur(s) : Hughes, Griffith fl. 1750 Austin, William engraver Bickham, George 1684? 1758? engraver Ehret, Georg Dionysius 1708-1770 engraver Erbets engraver Jefferys, Thomas d. 1771 cartographer Mynde, J. fl. 1740-1770 engraver Éditeur(s) : London, Printed for the author, 1750. London, Printed for the author, 1750. Résumé : 314 p., illus., map, plates. 41cm. (Funding) Digitized with funding from the Digital Library of the Caribbean grant awarded by TICFIA. Barbados London London London London London Barbados Barbados London London London Barbados Droits : All rights to images are held by the respective holding institution. This image is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. For permission to reproduce images and/or for copyright information contact Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, Orlando, FL 32816 phone (407) 823-2576, email: speccoll@mail.ucf.edu QH41.H8 | Partager Voir aussi Caribbean ( None ) Botany England -- Engravings -- 1750 England -- Errata lists (Printing) -- 1750 Imprint -- England -- 1750 Issues (Publishing) -- England -- 1750 England -- Large paper printings (Publishing) -- 1750 Maps -- 1750 Natural history Pagination errors (Printing) -- England -- 1750 |
![]() | Vue de l'Entree du Gouffre au Dessus des Sources des Eaux Therminales de Banica Auteur(s) : M.Moreau de St Mery | Partager |
![]() | Biografía del Caribe Auteur(s) : Arciniegas, Germán Éditeur(s) : Círculo de Lectores Círculo de Lectores ( Barcelona ) Résumé : (Funding) Support for the development of the technical infrastructure and partner training provided by the United States Department of Education TICFIA program. (Internal Comments) Name 'Lic. Rafael A. Figueroa O.' stamped on various pages. South America -- Caribbean Droits : All rights reserved by the source institution. | Partager |
![]() | Digital Library of the Caribbean ( dLOC ) Poster, Version 1, Revised Auteur(s) : Florida International University Éditeur(s) : Florida International University Florida International University North America -- Caribbean Caribbean | Partager |
![]() | San Domingo. Pen pictures and leaves of travel, romance and history, from the portfolio of a correspondent in the American tropics. Auteur(s) : Keim, De B. Randolph (De Benneville Randolph) 1841-1914 Éditeur(s) : Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfinger Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfinger Résumé : xii,336 p. 20cm. (Funding) Digitized with funding from the Digital Library of the Caribbean grant awarded by TICFIA. Dominican Republic Droits : All rights to images are held by the respective holding institution. This image is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. For permission to reproduce images and/or for copyright information contact Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, Orlando, FL 32816 phone (407) 823-2576, email: speccoll@mail.ucf.edu F1931.K27 | Partager |
![]() | Six months in the West Indies, in 1825. Auteur(s) : Coleridge, Henry Nelson 1798-1843 Éditeur(s) : London, J. Murray, 1826. London, J. Murray, 1826. Résumé : 2 p.l., 328 p. front. (map) 20 cm. (Funding) Digitized with funding from the Digital Library of the Caribbean grant awarded by TICFIA. Droits : All rights to images are held by the respective holding institution. This image is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. For permission to reproduce images and/or for copyright information contact Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, Orlando, FL 32816 phone (407) 823-2576, email: speccoll@mail.ucf.edu F2131.C683 1841 | Partager |
![]() | Historia General de las Indias. Conquista de Mejico. (Segunda parte). Auteur(s) : de Gomara, Francisco Lopez Éditeur(s) : Ediciones Orbis, S. A. Ediciones Orbis, S. A. Résumé : (Funding) Support for the development of the technical infrastructure and partner training provided by the United States Department of Education TICFIA program. North America -- Mexio -- Caribbean Droits : All rights reserved by the source institution. | Partager |
![]() | Route 2 près de chalons au sud de Miragoane Résumé : (Funding) Support for the development of the technical infrastructure and partner training provided by the United States Department of Education TICFIA program. Haiti -- Miragoane Droits : All rights reserved by the source institution. 10141 | Partager |
![]() | Forum with Parliament Members : Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination ; Audio Recordings of the Proceedings Auteur(s) : Caribbean IRN Résumé : From the PNCR, GAP MPs free to vote conscience on gay rights bill
By Johann Earle
Stabroek News
June 11, 2003
The PNCR will allow its members to vote their conscience on the controversial Constitution (Amendment) Act of 2001 which seeks to prevent discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and other grounds.
A number of religious organisations are opposed to the passage of the bill because it includes sexual orientation as one of the grounds. They are concerned that it could lead to a legalisation of homosexual relations and demands for recognition of gay marriages among other things.
PNCR Member of Parliament (MP) Vincent Alexander told a forum at the National Library on Saturday, that the Bill did not seek to legalise homosexuality, but to ensure that persons would not be discriminated against based on their sexual preferences.
He was one of two parliamentarians who showed up - the other being PNCR member, Myrna Peterkin.
The forum was organised by Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), a group comprising fifteen students from the University of Guyana which was formed about two weeks ago.
Alexander expects the vote on the bill to come up before the National Assembly in a matter of months.
Paul Hardy, Leader of the Guyana Action Party (GAP), told Stabroek News that his party would not be using the so-called parliamentary whip. He added that GAP took a decision that every member should vote according to his or her own conscience. “We have no right to deny the rights of others based on sexual orientation. [The Bill] will guarantee rights to the homosexual.” GAP is in Parliament as part of an alliance with the Working People’s Alliance. GAP/WPA has two MPs.
The bill was met with rejection from some members of the religious community in 2001 and as a result of this, the President did not assent to it.
In a statement on Monday, the Central Islamic Organisa-tion of Guyana (CIOG) said that it stood in firm opposition to the Bill. The CIOG says the general purpose of the bill may be commendable and that the organisation’s objection is not based on a willingness to promote discrimination. Rather, the CIOG said, it was based on the fact that specific legal protection on the basis of sexual orientation without definition or qualification gives tacit legitimacy to practices which are considered criminal in Islam. “It is foreseeable that such a legal nod of approval (subtle as it may be) of these practices may pave the way for greater social (or even legal) acceptability in the future which, from the perspective of all Muslims including those in Guyana, is an undesirable and sinful outcome,” the CIOG statement said.
At Saturday’s event, Muslim teacher Moulana Mohamed Ali Zenjibari spoke of instances of abuse, discrimination and harsh penalties meted out to gay and lesbian persons in countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia and noted that the Quran did not sanction such punishments for homosexual behaviour.
President of the CIOG, Fazeel Ferouz told Stabroek News that a meeting to discuss a strategy with regards to the bill was planned for tomorrow with various religious groups.
Stabroek News tried to get a comment on the issue from the PPP/C but to no avail.
ROAR leader, Ravi Dev said that his party was now having discussions on the issue. ROAR feels that it is an important question which has to do with morality and should be discussed across the country. He added legislators had to be in tune with their constituents on the issue.
SASOD is lobbying for the legislation through the sensitisation of MPs.
Keimo Benjamin, a law student at UG, gave a presentation based on the jurisprudential aspects of the discussion on sexual orientation. He argued that morality should not be the only guiding principle on which to base the laws. Sexual activities between two consenting male adults in private could not be equated with a violation of a person’s rights, he said, making the point that the thrust of his presentation was not whether homosexuality was wrong, but whether it violated the rights of others. He said that the attitudes of some towards this subject were based on preconceived notions and prejudices. He cited studies to show that the suppression of certain perceived deviant sexual impulses in persons might do more harm than good. One Harvard University study of teens who said they were gay indicated that those teens were three times more likely to commit suicide.
Vidyaratha Kissoon, of Help and Shelter, in his contribution on Saturday, expressed his displeasure at the low turnout at the forum and urged the parliamentarians who showed up to take the message to their colleagues. He noted that because of homophobia, the numerical minority was terrified of speaking out against instances of discrimination. Gays and lesbians in Guyana were subjected to ridicule and abuse, and walk the streets at night not looking for sex necessarily, but for the companionship of persons who empathise with them.
During his presentation, Joel Simpson, another member of SASOD, outlined a number of changes made within national jurisdictions that had international implications. One such crucial change was South Africa’s 1996 adoption of a new constitution, making that country the first in the world to expressly include sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination. It was the first time a developing country had taken the lead with respect to the rights of sexual minorities.
He also said that according to Douglas Sanders, a Canadian jurist, the rights of homosexual, bisexual or transsexual men and women had never been officially recognised by the United Nations, despite the fact that international laws on the issue began to emerge at the close of the Second World War.
Simpson said that under Article 170 (5), as amended by Section 8 of the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 4) Act 2000, the President is required to assent to any bill which is returned by the National Assembly unaltered after a two-thirds majority within 90 days of its presentation to him. To the parliamentarians present, Simpson stressed that the onus was now on them to adequately represent their constituents which include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual Guyanese.
http://www.landofsixpeoples.com/news301/ns306115.htm
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Vote on sexual orientation should be a matter of conscience - MP Alexander
By Esther Elijah
Guyana Chronicle
June 8, 2003
PEOPLE’S National Congress (PNC/R) Member of Parliament Mr. Vincent Alexander, said the Opposition will vote on “conscience” when the piece of legislation on sexual orientation is again brought before the National Assembly.
“With specific reference to my party, when this Bill gets back to the Parliament in the spirit of the arguments here, we will not use the `whip’. Our party will not say we have to vote for the provision (in the Sexual Orientation Bill). We will allow our members to vote as a matter of conscience,” he told participants gathered in the Conference Room of the National Library.
“We feel this is a matter of conscience. You may end up with a collective position but you have to deal with us individually,” Alexander said at a poorly attended public consultation aimed at gaining support for sexual orientation to be considered a fundamental right in Guyana.
Alexander, one of the main persons who sat on the Constitutional Reform Commission that addressed this controversial clause, said the legislation was not meant to legalise homosexual activities in Guyana.
“It was intended to ensure that persons who have an orientation - a way of thinking - which may or may not lead to a certain activity, to not be discriminated against, in terms of their rights,” he explained.
Alexander noted that very often, discussions on the sexual orientation provision in the Bill have led to seepages into other areas where debates centre on the “right to be homosexual.”
“I am saying the Bill does not comment on that… However, law is peculiar, especially in a Common Law system. Once you venture out and change the law, very often you open other windows which we cannot definitively say exist or does not exist in advance,” he said.
“The fear of some people is that the legislators might say one thing and the Courts will eventually say something else. While some people can’t argue against the law, per say, they will say this has opened a window of opportunity not meant to be opened. So, it is better to stay without a window than open it and then have a possibility of something you didn’t intend to happen - happening sometime in the future.”
Alexander added: “I want to say I’ve found this activity to have been rich from the perspective of the amount of research which was done by student (speakers). Without any comment as to whether I agree with the arguments, I would wish that much more research on other issues be done by students, and that at the University (of Guyana) students would find it convenient to have forums on other issues, with the same depth of research for their own intellectual development.”
Alexander and other Opposition M.P, Lurlene Nestor were the only three Parliamentarians in attendance at the session organised by the recently formed `Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination’ (SASOD), a group that has a membership of 15 mostly University of Guyana (UG) students from various faculties.
SASOD was established two weeks ago.
With the exception of members of the press, the consultation only managed to attract 11 persons, a handful of who were SASOD members.
While congratulating the students for an “insightful” presentation, Nestor pointed out that whether or not she chooses to agree with their position is “another issue” and she is entitled to her “own view”.
“The issue of sexual orientation is very `toucheous’ …while we agree with the human rights provisions and all that as a society, we must also revert to our own society. Some of the very critical questions that I would want to ask is whether or not at the society (level) we are ready for that kind of thing,” she remarked.
“We cannot, at (any) time, ignore the religious groups in our society. If we look at statistics going back to 1992 from a survey done by the Bureau of Statistics, we would see that a small section of the Guyanese population might be considered as people who do not subscribe to a religious view. While the laws are not necessarily based on moral values, we must acknowledge the fact that we might want to revert to many of the cases that (concern) laws that protect public morality.”
Nestor told the speakers at the consultation these were some of the issues that they needed to deal with.
She highlighted, too, that what must be examined is the effects of same-sex marriages on society and how this issue must be tackled.
“These are some of the things we should consider and I don’t think you dealt with that in the presentations,” Nestor stated, adding that the issues must be addressed “frontally.”
“Do we think that with the coming to being of this Bill that there might be quite a number of challenges to the Constitution in relation to the same issue of a man marrying a man? What do we do at the society (level)? Do we recognise that?” were the questions directed at the five speakers at the session.
Nestor continued: “There is some argument that says, `Oh the Bill does not promote homosexuality or does not encourage a man to marry (another) man, but if you look at Section (15) that talks about `non-discrimination’ then how can we not, with the passage of this Bill, allow a man not to marry (another) man.”
According to Nestor, matters of this nature constitute some of the “inconsistencies” of the Bill.
On the argument raised by presenters at the session on who determines what is morality, Nestor said in the concept of democracy it is the people who are the determinants based on a “line of thinking.”
She also rebutted on grounds that put the spotlight on teachers who may have been caught “interfering” with their young students and who may subsequently be dismissed from their jobs.
“Could you imagine such a person interfering with a boy below age 10 - and by virtue of the fact that the Bill is there, the judges (in the case) will have to use their discretion in terms of what happens. We will have more Constitutional changes and problems (arising with the passage of the Bill).”
SASOD member and law student, Joel Simpson, in reply, said he doesn’t think any homosexual in Guyana wants to “run into a church and ask that people marry them or anything of that sort.”
At one point likening the church to a “club”, Simpson claimed the church has the right to exclude whomever it wants. He further stated that in accordance with the Constitution, people of the same sex do not currently have the right to marry, and will also not be able to do such an act with the passage of the Bill.
However, Simpson said it is possible that the law, with the passage of the Bill, would have to recognise same-sex domestic partnerships in relation to employment benefits, sharing of properties, etc.
Simpson said he believes there should be a realm of “public” and “private” morality between consenting adults, and implied that the Bill did not fully give “rights” to homosexuals.
But, Nestor interjected: “I am informing you further…that the Sexual Orientation provision has, in fact, in some way recognised the rights of homosexuals and we must accept that.”
Meanwhile, there was no vocal Christian representative(s) at the consultation and apart from the two Opposition representatives none other participant gave comments or directed questions at the presenters.
Other speakers in support of the sexual orientation clause were: Moulana Mohammed Ali Zenjiban, Assistant Director of the International Islamic College; Denuka Radzik from Red Thread, Keimo Benjamin, UG law student and Vidyartha Kissoon from Help & Shelter.
The Sunday Chronicle has been reliably informed that the Georgetown Ministers Fellowship, representing groups of Christian leaders staunchly against sexual orientation as a right in Guyana, have recently prepared a detailed 16-page document outlining issues arising from research to further boost their argument against the inclusion of the clause.
The document is yet to be made public.
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