DNA: Lightbourn's comments spineless

Sat, Jul 30th 2016, 07:59 PM

Several Democratic National Alliance (DNA) female candidates yesterday shot down Free National Movement (FNM) MP Richard Lightbourn's comment's about forced sterilization of mothers during a speech at the FNM convention on Thursday, as "utterly disgraceful".

While addressing delegates on the second night of the FNM national convention, the Montagu MP said The Bahamas should follow "the lead of several countries in the world which results in an unwed mother having her tubes tied after having more than two children which would in the end result in fewer children being born".

"The state should not have the burden of paying for the upbringing of children," Lightbourn said.

"By adopting such measures, there would be [fewer] classrooms needed in the future and [fewer] persons coming out of school every year seeking employment and would also result in the mother of these children being able to live a better life not having to bring up so many children."

DNA candidate for Elizabeth Prodesta Moore, DNA candidate for Bain and Grants Town Brenda Harris, and DNA candidate for Marathon Emily Williams demanded that the MP "apologize to the women of this country" for suggesting the courts intervene with the reproductive rights of women in The Bahamas.

They added that instead of intervening in matters of which he lacks knowledge, he should instead try to help young Bahamian mothers.

"Mr. Lightbourn and the FNM should instead be creating the kind of legislation that empowers young mothers in a way that allows them to take care of themselves and their children," the DNA candidates said.

They said Lightbourn's "utterly disgraceful commentary" was "offensive" rather than the answer to classroom overcrowding and high unemployment.

They said the FNM could keep their "spineless, visionless and misogynistic" approach to governance because "Bahamian mothers want no part of the FNM's sexist and anti-feminist mentality".

"For our reproductive rights, the women of this country must stand against such backward thinking and demand more of our political leaders lest we be relegated once again to the dark ages," they said.

Lightbourn apologized for his comments yesterday afternoon.

By Jasper Ward

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