Manioc : Portail | resultats 21 - 40 pour la recherche: exclusion

Facteurs explicatifs de la répartition spatiale en Afrique australe de deux espèces de tiques parapatriques, vectrices de la cowdriose, Amblyomma variegatum et Amblyomma hebraeum et rôle de la compétition ; Spatial distribution of the explanatory factors in Southern Africa Two tick species parapatric vector of heartwater , Amblyomma variegatum and Amblyomma hebraeum and role of competition
Auteur(s) : Bournez, Laure
Auteurs secondaires : Antilles-Guyane Omrane, Abdennebi

Résumé : La connaissance des facteurs qui influent sur les populations de tiques et en particulier sur leurs distributions est un préalable indispensable à l’étude des maladies qu’elles transmettent. Parmi eux, l’importance des facteurs biotiques et en particulier celle de la compétition interspécifique est peu connue et souvent négligée. L’objectif de ce travail était d’évaluer le rôle de la compétition interspécifique sur la distribution de deux espèces de tiques d’importance vétérinaire, Amblyomma variegatum et A. hebraeum. Alors que seule A. variegatum favorise la transmission de la dermatophilose, une maladie de peau débilitante pour les ruminants, les deux espèces sont vectrices de la cowdriose, maladie due à une bactérie Ehrlichia ruminantium qui représente une contrainte économique majeure pour l’élevage. L’impact de l’espèce vectrice dans l’épidémiologie de la cowdriose (différences de souches circulantes, sévérité des cas,…) est inconnu bien qu’ayant potentiellement des conséquences en termes de surveillance (risque épidémiologique à l’introduction d’animaux) et de contrôle (développement de vaccin régional adapté aux souches circulantes) de la maladie. Ces deux espèces ont une distribution contiguë en Afrique australe avec peu de chevauchement (distribution parapatrique) suggérant une préférence environnementale différentielle ou une compétition exclusive entre elles. Une revue des données de la littérature a permis de mettre en évidence un chevauchement de leur niche trophique, climatique, et temporelle, et une interférence comportementale via la production de leurs phéromones. Les deux espèces pourraient donc rentrer en compétition directement par interférence communicative ou reproductive (hybridation stérile), ou indirectement via le partage de ressources, prédateurs ou pathogènes communs. Le rôle des facteurs biotiques et abiotiques sur le maintien de la parapatrie de ces deux espèces a été analysée (i) d’une part par la comparaison de leur niche environnementale réalisée en Afrique australe, et aux deux zones de contact au Zimbabwe et Mozambique, par des méthodes d’ordination et de modèles de niche (Maxent) ; (ii) et d’autre part par l’étude de leurs distributions et de leurs interactions (distribution sur les hôtes, croisements hétérospécifiques) dans la zone de contact au Mozambique. Globalement les résultats montrent qu’en Afrique Sud-Est et au Zimbabwe les deux espèces occupent des niches environnementales distinctes, celle d’A. hebraeum incluant des zones plus chaudes et plus sèches que celle d’A. variegatum. Au contraire au Mozambique les deux niches se chevauchent considérablement. L’enquête de terrain dans cette zone montre que les deux espèces y sont moins souvent trouvées en sympatrie que les données prédites, suggérant une distribution en partie déterminée par des interactions biotiques. Dans les rares sites avec présence des deux espèces, A. variegatum et A. hebraeum partagent les mêmes sites de fixation sur les animaux et forment un pourcentage relativement élevé de couples hétérospécifiques. Ce pourcentage, bien que similaire entre les femelles A. variegatum et A. hebraeum, semble impliquer des processus de discrimination spécifique propres aux deux espèces intervenant au niveau de l’agrégation, de la fixation et du contact des individus. Nos résultats suggèrent l’existence d’une compétition exclusive entre les deux espèces, due à une compétition sexuelle probablement associée à une compétition indirecte. La frontière parapatrique semble occuper une position stable le long d’un gradient environnemental au Zimbabwe mais pas au Mozambique. Les conditions entrainant la coexistence ou l’exclusion des deux espèces avec formation d’une frontière parapatrique sont discutés à l’aide de modèles théoriques de compétition.
Studying the factors that influence tick populations and their distributions is an essential pre-requisite to understanding the dynamics of the diseases they transmit. The relative importance of biotic factors such as interspecific competition is not well known and often neglected. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of interspecific competition on the distribution of two tick species of veterinary importance, Amblyomma variegatum and A. hebraeum. Whereas only A. variegatum is known to favor dermatophilosis, a debilitating skin disease of ruminants, both species are good vectors of Ehrlichia ruminantium, the bacteria causing heartwater, a fatal disease of ruminants that presents a major constraint for livestock development in Africa. The impact of vector species in heartwater epidemiology (differences of circulating strains, severity of clinical cases…) is poorly known but may have important implications for surveillance (epidemiological risk of imported animals) and control (adapting regional vaccine programs to circulating strains) of the disease. These two ticks have abutting and marginally overlapping (i.e. parapatric) distributions in southern Africa, suggesting either differential environmental preferences or exclusive competition between the two species. A review of published data highlighted an important overlap of their trophic, climatic and seasonal niche, and existence of chemical behavior interference through pheromone production. Therefore, the two species might compete either directly by communicative or reproductive interference (sterile hybridization), or indirectly by sharing the same resources, predators or pathogens. The role of biotic and abiotic factors in determining parapatry of these species was assessed by (i) comparing their realized environmental niche in southern Africa, and at contact zones in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, using ordination techniques and environmental niche modeling (Maxent); (ii) studying their distributions and their interactions (distribution on co-infested host, heterospecific mating) at the contact zone in Mozambique. Globally, the results indicated the two species occupied distinctly different environmental niches in southern Africa and at the contact zone in Zimbabwe, with the niche of A. hebraeum including both hotter and drier areas than that of A. variegatum. However, in Mozambique their niches overlapped considerably. Field studies within this zone showed that sympatry was observed less frequently than predicted by niche models, suggesting an importance of biotic interactions. At the rare sites where both species were present, A. variegatum and A. hebraeum were observed to share the same preference sites on hosts and formed a high percentage of heterospecific pairs. Though this cross-mating rate was not significantly different between A. variegatum and A. hebraeum females, our observations suggest different mechanism of species discrimination involved for the two species acting at the aggregation, fixation and partner contact level. Our results strongly suggest exclusive competition between these species may arise from sexual competition probably interacting with other indirect forms of competition. The parapatric boundary apparently occupies a stable location along an environmental gradient at the contact zone in Zimbabwe but not in Mozambique. Conditions inducing coexistence or exclusion of both species with the formation of parapatric distributions are discussed in relation to theoretical models of competition. When sexual competition is introduced in these models, the relative frequency of two species is determined by their endogenous fitness (a function of environmental conditions), density dependent effects of competitive interactions, historical distributions and dispersal rates: survival of the first prevails when the immigration rate of a fitter invading species remains lower than an invasion threshold.

http://www.theses.fr/2014AGUY0705/document

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Flor de la A. Allones : fabrica de tobacos from the famous humidor of Dunhill
Auteur(s) : Rey del Mundo Cigar Company, 1935 ( Manufacturer )
Auteurs secondaires : Cigar City Collection

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Les nouveaux visages de l'esclavage
Auteur(s) : Colas, Geneviève
Année de publication :

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Trinidad and Tobago revised ordinances, 1950 ; Laws, etc. (Trinidad and Tobago revised ordinances, 1950
Auteur(s) : Trinidad Maingot, Elliot Francis, 1891-

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Ressources marines caribéennes et écotourisme : lorsque la dimension patrimoniale intégre le projet touristique
Auteur(s) : Augier, Dominique
Année de publication :

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Trinidad and Tobago revised ordinances, 1950
Auteur(s) : Trinidad Maingot, Elliot Francis, 1891-

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Représentations fictionnelles de l'esclavage en Amazonie brésilienne : entre refoulement et forclusion identitaire
Auteur(s) : Thomas, Erika
Année de publication :

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Lives and archeology of risk : diachronic land-use, settlement and volcanic activity on Montserrat
Auteur(s) : Cherry, John F.
Année de publication :

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Le personnage picaresque comme sublimation de la marginalité : Cambridge de Caryl Phillips
Auteur(s) : Le François, Frédéric
Auteurs secondaires : Aurélia, Dominique
Année de publication :

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El espacio público accesible como elemento de integración social. Aplicación en zonas costeras e islas
Auteur(s) : Tejada Cruz, Antonio Fernández-Bermejo, Mariela

Éditeur(s) : Université des Antilles Études caribéennes
Résumé : En este trabajo se pretende hacer una aproximación a las posibilidades que tiene el espacio público de las ciudades costeras y de las islas como elemento de integración social. Para ello veremos que el diseño de estos espacios desde el punto de vista de la diversidad humana es muy importante, ya que si a la hora de diseñar tenemos en cuenta todas las posibilidades, podremos generar espacios que ayuden a las personas a sociabilizarse. En las zonas costeras contamos con cuestiones específicas y en el caso concreto de las islas y playas en el que existe espacio limitado, es importante definir este rol del espacio público.La humanización del espacio público va de la mano de la accesibilidad, es por este motivo que aplicar criterios de Diseño para Todos y Accesibilidad Universal en el diseño del espacio público nos permite la democratización del mismo, de tal modo que puede ser disfrutado por todos los ciudadanos en igualdad de condiciones. En las islas y las zonas costeras, la exclusión social de grupos poblacionales por falta de accesibilidad puede resultar preocupante ya que la limitación física del espacio reduce mucho las posibilidades de crecimiento de las personas.
Cette étude propose une approche sur les possibilités de faire de l’espace public des villes côtières et des îles un élément d’intégration sociale. Pour cela il est important que la conceptualisation de ces espaces intègre les dimensions de la diversité humaine. Si lors de la conception toutes les possibilités sont prises en compte, il est possible de construire des espaces qui participent à la sociabilisation des personnes. Dans les zones côtières se posent des questions spécifiques et concrètes autour de l’accessibilité aux plages et aux îles dans lesquelles l’espace est limité. Il est important de définir le rôle de l’espace public.L’humanisation de l’espace public va de pair avec la question de l’accessibilité, d’où l’importance d’intégrer les dimensions de l’accessibilité pour tous dans l’aménagement de ces espaces. C’est une question de démocratie, tous les citoyens doivent pouvoir en profiter quelle que soit leur condition. Dans les espaces côtiers, l’exclusion sociale de certaines catégories de populations en raison du manque d’accessibilité est d’autant plus préoccupante que le milieu physique est plus contraignant.
This paper intends to approximate the possibilities that the public space of coastal cities and islands have as an element of social integration. For this we will see that the design of these spaces from the point of view of diversity is very important, since when designing we take into account all the possibilities of generating spaces that help people to become socialized. In coastal areas we have specific things and in the specific case of islands and beaches where there is limited space, it is important to define this role of public space.The humanization of public space goes hand in hand with accessibility, it is for this reason that it applies criteria of Design for All and Universal Accessibility in the design of the public space allows us the democratization of it, in such a way that can be enjoyed by all Citizens in equal conditions In the islands and coastal areas, social exclusion of population groups due to lack of accessibility can be of concern and that physical limitation of space reduces the chances of growth of people.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
urn:doi:10.4000/etudescaribeennes.10752
http://journals.openedition.org/etudescaribeennes/10752

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Agencia, mujeres afrodescendientes, honor y ciudadania durante el fin de la colonia en la provincial de Caracas, 1790-1800
Auteur(s) : Laurent-Perrault, Evelyne
Année de publication :

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Lettres de Saint Thomas
Auteur(s) : Firmin, Joseph-Anténor, 1850-1911

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La mise en fiction du livre dans la Rue Cases-Nègres et le Syllabaire
Auteur(s) : Adenet-Louvet, Marjory
Auteurs secondaires : Fardin, Liliane
Année de publication :

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Trinidad and Tobago revised ordinances, 1950 ; Laws, etc. (Trinidad and Tobago revised ordinances, 1950
Auteur(s) : Trinidad Maingot, Elliot Francis, 1891-

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Effet des conditions environnementales sur le développement des pathologies à Vibrio dans les élevages de crevettes en Nouvelle-Calédonie
Auteur(s) : Lemonnier, Hugues

Éditeur(s) : Université de La Rochelle
Résumé : Shrimp aquaculture in New Caledonia is a developing industry, exclusively based on the species Litopenaeus stylirostris. However, it is subject to mortalities during grow out as observed all over the world. Since 1993, shrimp reared during the cold period are affected by a disease named "syndrome 93". As a consequence, the whole industry has become seasonal and produces essentially during the warm season. The climatic conditions during the periods of transition between the two main seasons could be responsible for an environmental stress and the origin reason for mortality outbreaks. Stocking density is the main risk factor. It increases the probability of the appearance and development of the epizooty in the pond. The "Summer Syndrome", a septicemic vibriosis caused by Vibrio nigripulchritudo, was identified for the first time in December 1997 in an intensive shrimp farm (DF). It has become enzootic ever since and is expressed after 50d of rearing. Since 2003, two others farms located near DF have developed the disease. As a consequence, the summer syndrome is considered to be a potential threat for all the industry. Between 1991 and 2005, the increase of feed input and nitrogen levels in feed has led to a significant increase in the growth rate over the years in the farms affected by the disease. In consequence, an early eutrophication of the water is observed, which is concomitant with the beginning of the mortality outbreaks. An early eutrophication and the virulence level of the pathogen are considered as the main risk factors of the disease. Factors may act synergistically to explain the summer syndrome. As part of a multidisciplinary approach (pathology physiology environment), two high-frequency surveys were carried out to analyse the pond ecosystem. Since the feed quantity increases with the biomass of shrimp, the eutrophication level of the pond ecosystem will also tend to increase with the duration of rearing. During the first part of the rearing, the abundance of each picoplankton type is exceptionally high and picophytoplankton dominated the autotrophic compartment. The nanophytoplankton dominated the second part of the rearing and was more unstable. The shift from pico to nanophytoplankton could be considered as an environmental stress and was observed in relation to the beginning of the mortalities, whatever the disease. Shift intensity could play a role by inducing directly or indirectly a stress for shrimp and/or a growth and/or virulence factors of the pathogen. Results from sediment studies show that mortality was best characterized by TAN concentration in pore water and even more when the TAN concentration was high. TAN and pH are potential stress factors for shrimp reared in ponds affected by these diseases.
L'aquaculture mondiale de crevettes est un secteur à très forte croissance. Toutefois, les problèmes liés aux maladies dans les élevages ne cessent d'augmenter depuis 1980. Au cours du développement de la filière de Nouvelle-Calédonie, deux épisodes saisonniers de mortalités associées à la présence de Vibrio pathogènes sont apparus et ont fortement perturbé les techniques et les schémas de production. Les premières mortalités hivernales, décrites sous le nom de « syndrome 93 » ont été observées en mai 1993. Elles ont affecté depuis tous les élevages de saison froide de toutes les fermes de production. Les conditions climatiques pendant les périodes de transitions entre les deux principales saisons caractérisant le climat de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, seraient responsables d'un stress environnemental à l'origine du déclenchement du syndrome 93. La densité initiale d'ensemencement, apparaît comme le principal facteur de risque, augmentant la probabilité d'apparition de la maladie et l'ampleur de ses effets. Le « syndrome d'été » a été identifié pour la première fois en 1997 dans une ferme pratiquant une production intensive. Il s'est déclaré depuis 2003 dans deux autres fermes géographiquement proches. Les mortalités apparaissent 58 jours en moyenne après l'ensemencement des post-larves dans les bassins. La recherche d'une croissance maximale des animaux a induit, avec les années, une intensification progressive du système caractérisée par une augmentation de la quantité d'aliment distribuée. L'examen des données historiques fait apparaître une eutrophisation du milieu de plus en plus précoce concomitante au déclenchement des mortalités. En l'état actuel de nos connaissances, cette évolution précoce de l'écosystème en présence de façon récurrente de la souche hautement pathogène du Vibrio incriminé et à une période où la fréquence des mues des crevettes est élevée, constitue le principal facteur de risque de la maladie. Avec l'apport croissant en aliment, la colonne d'eau évolue vers une autotrophie croissante alors que le sédiment devient de plus en plus hétérotrophe au fur et à mesure que l'élevage progresse. Au cours du processus d'eutrophisation, le compartiment autotrophe montre une succession de deux assemblages. Le picophytoplancton domine sur la première partie de l'élevage et laisse place à du nanophytoplancton en seconde partie. Cette phase de transition, concomitante à l'apparition des mortalités quel que soit le syndrome, caractérise un stress environnemental dont l'intensité pourrait favoriser ou non le déclenchement des mortalités. Les suivis de différents indicateurs dans les sédiments - pH, potentiel d'oxydoréduction et concentration en ammoniaque dans l'eau interstitielle indiquent dans les bassins déclarant les épizooties des conditions qui ont été définies expérimentalement comme potentiellement plus stressantes pour les animaux.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2007/these-2643.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/2643/

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Trinidad and Tobago revised ordinances, 1950
Auteur(s) : Trinidad Maingot, Elliot Francis, 1891-

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Fishing effects on the diversity dynamics of demersal fish communities. Comparative analysis of the role of the interactions between specices in the Bay of Biscay and in the Gulf of Lion (France).
Auteur(s) : Blanchard, Fabian

Éditeur(s) : Soc Francaise D Ichtyologie
Résumé : This work deals with the fishing effects on the diversity dynamics of demersal fish communities, focusing on the biotic interactions. Multispecies indices were used in order to characterise the demersal fish community dynamics of the Bay of Biscay and of the Gulf of Lions. These are the diversity indices, the temporal variability of the total biomass and of the slope of the number size spectra and the slope of the species-area curves (spatial segregation). The data were provided by yearly bottom trawl surveys EVHOE, CHALIST and MEDITS carried out in these two areas since 1983 by IFREMER for stock assessment. The differences between areas are related to a fishing index (mean value of the annual landings of demersal fish per surface area). Other areas are included in the analysis when the index values are available from the published literature (North Sea, Scotian Shelf, Kenya, French Guyana). From the diversity indices analysis it is argued that the Gulf of Lions community is more diverse and less disturbed than the Bay of Biscay one. This result is not consistent with a fishing effect. It is interpreted as a biogeography pattern. The total biomass variability and the slope variability of size spectra are higher in the most harvested areas than in the least ones. On the contrary, the species-area slope is the lowest in the most harvested areas. Theoretically, biotic interactions decrease the total biomass variability and the spectra slope variability because of compensations, and increase the species area slope because of competitive exclusion. It is concluded that harvesting alters biotic interactions and favours local coexistence by decreasing competitive exclusion. The species diversity maintenance depends on competitive exclusion. Hence, biodiversity is threatened not only by a direct fishing effect but also by a dynamics alteration.
Ce mémoire aborde le problème de l'impact de l'exploitation par la pêche sur la dynamique de diversité des peuplements de poissons démersaux. Les effets de la pêche sur le rôle des interactions biotiques entre espèces dans la dynamique des peuplements sont plus particulièrement analysés à l'aide de descripteurs multispécifiques. Les descripteurs utilisés sont les indices de diversité, la variabilité temporelle de la biomasse totale et de la pente multispécifique du spectre de poids et la pente des droites d'accumulation d'espèces mesurant la ségrégation spatiale. Les valeurs de ces indices sont calculées à partir des données de campagnes annuelles de chalutage de fond EVHOE, CHALIST et MEDITS, menées par l'IFREMER depuis 1983 pour évaluer les ressources halieutiques dans le golfe de Gascogne et dans le golfe du Lion. Les différences de caractéristiques de dynamique entre les deux peuplements révélées par ces descripteurs sont mises en relation avec un indice d'exploitation (valeur moyenne des débarquements annuels, divisée par la surface du plateau de la région concernée). D'autres régions ont été intégrées dans cette analyse lorsque les valeurs des indicateurs étaient disponibles dans la littérature (Mer du Nord, plateau de Nouvelle-Ecosse, Kenya et Guyane Française). Les indices de diversité utilisés permettent de mettre en évidence que le peuplement du golfe du Lion est plus diversifié et moins soumis à perturbations que celui du golfe de Gascogne. Ces caractéristiques semblent dues à l'histoire biogéographique de ces deux régions et non à un effet de la pêche. La variabilité de la biomasse totale et celle de la pente du spectre multispécifique augmentent depuis les régions les moins exploitées vers les plus exploitées. A l'inverse, la ségrégation spatiale diminue. En théorie, les interactions entre espèces diminuent la variabilité temporelle de la biomasse totale et de la pente du spectre multispécifique, à cause de compensations entre espèces, et augmentent la ségrégation spatiale par exclusion compétitive. L'interprétation donnée des résultats obtenus est ainsi une altération des interactions entre les espèces par l'exploitation. En prélevant de la biomasse, l'exploitation augmente la disponibilité des ressources pour les individus non pêchés. En conséquence, l'exclusion compétitive diminue et la coexistence locale des individus est facilitée. A long terme, la diversité est donc menacée, non seulement par raréfaction des espèces prélevées par l'exploitation mais aussi parce que les interactions sont altérées et que le maintien de la diversité en dépend pour partie.
Cybium (0399-0974) (Soc Francaise D Ichtyologie), 2001 , Vol. 25 , N. 3 , P. 293-294

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/10248/7688.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/10248/

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Fish, fishers, seals and tourists: Economic consequences of creating a marine reserve in a multi-species, multi-activity context
Auteur(s) : Boncoeur, Jean Alban, Frederique Guyader, Olivier Thebaud, Olivier

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Trinidad and Tobago revised ordinances, 1950
Auteur(s) : Trinidad Maingot, Elliot Francis, 1891-

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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 and 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. http://www.landofsixpeoples.com/news301/nc306083.htm

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