Hit back at propaganda, PM

This is an open letter to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.

By Mark Dawes, Guest Columnist

The dismissal of Professor Brendan Bain as the director of Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training (CHART) Centre is a matter of grave concern.

The University of the West Indies has, in its press statement, made no allegation of wrongdoing or inaccuracy attributed to the professor. In fact, the university accords to him the right to have provided the expert evidence that he did.

The UWI said: "The majority of HIV and public-health experts believe that criminalising men having sex with men and discriminating against them violates their human rights, puts them at even higher risk, reduces their access to services, forces the HIV epidemic underground thereby increasing the HIV risk. These are the positions advocated by the UN, UNAIDS, WHO, PAHO, the international human rights communities, and PANCAP, which is the organisation leading the regional response to the HIV epidemic.

Madam Prime Minister, what is the evidence that the programme will not be able to effectively deliver on its mandate?

The positions of these health and human-rights organisations do not belong to the realm of settled orthodoxy, but settled propaganda.

Honourable Prime Minister, may I suggest that you and your fellow heads of government within CARICOM consider whether or not these overseas bodies (UN, UNAIDS, WHO, PAHO, the international human rights communities and PANCAP) are overreaching and thereby tarnishing the reputation of a distinguished medical luminary?

CARICOM should consider the following:

1) A reinstatement of Professor Brendan Bain as CHART director, with an appropriate apology.

2) A termination of the contract of the UWI as project manager of CHART. I believe, Prime Minister, on this score, the UWI has lost the confidence of the people of CARICOM.

Mark L. Dawes is a pastor. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.