Ban corporal punishment

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Corporal punishment is defined as a punishment, which is intended to cause physical pain to a person. Recent comments by the minister of justice has placed the issue of corporal punishment for children in homes at the forefront of a broader conversation. He was reported saying that he intended to enact a legislation to ban this practice, which has led to condemnation and derisive comments by some religious leaders and others citizens. The good book is most often quoted as a justification for retaining this practice.

The very same good book also says in 1 Peter 2:18 “Slaves in reverent fear of god submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh” (NIV). Given the righteous, unsubmissive resistance of our forefathers to chattel slavery, I think we can agree that the good book is not always right.

Two of the articles of The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Jamaica which I am sharing are relevant to this issues state: “The right of every child to be protected by virtue of being a minor, part of a family, society and the state” and “The right to protection from torture, or inhumane or degrading punishment or treatment”. Amendments to various laws were enacted in 2013, which removed flogging and whipping from Jamaica’s penal code so the question is: why do we retain flogging and whipping as punishment in homes for minors who are the most vulnerable among us? Isn’t the laws of a country suppose to protect all its citizens, including its children, against abuse by other people?

In my view, it is about time that the inhumane and degrading practice of inflicting pain as punishment for minors is ceased everywhere in Jamaica and I posit, it is already illegal under Jamaican law.

ALWYN GREGORY

Manchester