To think the western Republic Trinidad and Tobago in the 21st century has government unc opposition ministers and senators debating in parliament whether hard back men should be legally allowed to marry girls under 18 years, as early as 14 years, 16, 17, 18... this is old patriarchal school thinking where girls and women are treated as objects of possessions of men and boys. with no shame these men and sadly some women argue that it is for the girls' well being. oh, that they agree to the age limit of 18 but that there should be set in law, room for cases which may deem, by the parent, that it is better for the little girl to get married. rooted in this thinking has nothing to do with the well being of the girl but a save face, or save from embarrassment, the family because their girl child got pregnant, "how it go look?"
this should not even be up for debate, little human females ought to be in school, at play, at home with loving parents who will feed, clothed and shelter them until they freely choose to marry the one they love, hopefully at least between their 21st to 40th birthday if they wish to have children or any age over 21 right to 100 years if they do not wish to have children but never before 18.
there is enough research which shows that sexual maturity is only one level or part of human maturity, that there are more required to be attained before being truly ready to have children and look after them into their safe arrival, to their own adulthood. the hard back men who are arguing to get these little girls to be legally available to serve their sexual and domestic care needs are of the patriarchal school where women were not/are not seen or treated as equal human beings with full human rights and freedom.
it could never be right, just, of clear conscience, "75 cannot go into 14". adult human beings, male and female role is to protect and serve the total well being of little girls and boys right up and even beyond the age of 18.
give us the guts to protect society's children, girls and boys
sankofa m f o m tuzinde
8th March 2017
International women's day
"BE BOLD FOR CHANGE"
GOD BLESS