Activist against sexual abuse, Delia Cuffy-Weekes, has revealed that she is still awaiting word from the government on the issue of raising the age of consent in Dominica from 16 to 18.
In January 2013, Cuffy-Weekes started a petition on the matter and it was handed to prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, in November 2013.
She said no response has been received so far although the prime minister did tell her that a decision to raise the age of consent has to be taken by cabinet.
“The prime minister indicated that this was not a decision that he could take on his own … it has to go to cabinet,” she said. “I have been trying to find out since that time where exactly it is.
She said she has no idea if the petition was ever brought to cabinet and whether there has been any discussion on it.
“Apparently our children are not on the critical list for anybody but the few noisy people who keep advocating on their behalf,” Cuffy-Weekes lamented. “If we say our children are our future and we are concerned about our youth, then we really need to put our money where our mouth is and walk the walk. Now is a time for action.”
She appears disappointed that only 3,000 individuals signed the petition, a far cry from the 50,000 she was expecting.
“We have a lot of people who are willing to talk but then when its time for action very few people who are willing to act and the few who are willing to act will go out and act because they are the ones on the frontline,” she stated.
She urged everyone to continue the fight for the nation’s youth since sexual abuse is a serious problem.
“You don’t have to be a legal mind, you don’t have to be someone who likes to talk a lot,” she stated. “You can in your own little way do what you can. Make sure that you look out for children, children need to be loved and protected, do that. The community needs to take responsibility for all children, to protect them when we see things going wrong. We need to speak about it.”
Cuffy-Weekes also called on the public to stop pointing fingers at parents who accept “hush money” from sexual offenders, saying they should be educated instead.
“For the few parents who accept hush money, we need to educate them that what they are doing is wrong,” she remarked. “Stop criminalizing them and just pointing fingers at them. Let us go the right way and educate them so that they will do the right thing.”
Cuffy-Weekes started a petition following the release of explicit videos involving minors on a popular social network site. The videos were also uploaded to several porn sites.
It is not Good for Dominican to be prostitution them self in that way and mrs. Weekes I believe that the age of consent should be 19
I thank the Lord for this movement to protect our under age from sexual predators and to curb the actions of our young ones. I totally agree to raising the age of consent because most young girls who engage in sexual activity at a young age usually engage because of pressure of some kind from any number of agent. The men and boys out there need to start to control their actions and stop harassing our young girls for sexual favors. Its time for our country’s daughters to regain their virgin pride in self and body.
Happy that the conversation on this matter continues. Thanks much Sister Delia. Well lets hope that the Cabinet is not made out of a set of ‘Fouchets’. So many people in high offices are perpetrators themsleves and careless to consider change, but change is the dominant constant that relentlessly pursues justice. We must protect our children!
I dow know why that woman dow go somewhere and play with herself.. Before these people make these foolish proposals public make sure its realistic..
Anyways Mrs Weekes you can put the age of consent to 30… Children under the age of 16 will still continue to have consensual sex with men. 90% of under age sex is consensual. Nowadays it’s the young girls who are going after the young boys or men. Therefore before you infer on anything do your homework.
In that case the person over the age of consent is in a position of trust regardless of whether they are male or female. The person over the age of consent is the “adult” of the two. He is responsible to treat the girl as he would want somebody to treat his little sister if he has one.
However, it is unfortunate that young girls would be so aggressive. Did they learn nothing at home ? Sadly, many of them had no example or mentor. What kind of mother did they have? Do they even know who their biological father is? Are they following in the footsteps of a mother who was the same way?
When young people ignore God’s moral laws that forbid sex outside of marriage, and alley-cat around, giving themselves to any (or every!) one who will have them, this is the kind of homes we end up with. The next generation will repeat the performance because it is all they have ever seen and soon civilized society as we have known it will be gone.
It is time to pray, stand on the Word of God, and work for reform and renewal in our day. This is possible because the Lord Jesus said, “If any man follows me he will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Underage sex may be ”consensual” but it is statuary rape which is rape because the girl is not old enough to say ”yes” or ”O.K”.
Having an age of consent makes it possible for the police to charge the man. Without an age of consent law a child of any age could be enticed to say ”yes” or ”O.K. for any reason and the police could not touch the man.
Instead of arguing against an ”age of consent” and instead of trying to have it lowered, we should be sharpening the law either by raising it or at least by making sure it is enforced. We should be bringing in even better laws to protect the children.
In the U.S.A. there is a major homosexual rights lobby organization working to have the age of consent lowered or eliminated. They publish an official magazine. One month they issued a special edition devote to promoting pedophilia. One such organization adopted as their motto ”Sex by Eight or it is too Late.”
Stiff penalties and public pics of offenders,parents taking time to talk and socialise with their kids.Law enforcement have to se a better example by not being involved in abuse themselves.Changing age of consent aint gonna acomplish anything without education on parenting and teaching our kids to report abuse,who they can talk to and numbers they can call.
All excellent advice.
Moral teaching should begin in the home. It should be given in the schools and churches.
And yes, children should be instructed to avoid getting in a car with a stranger, or going anywhere strange or out of sight with somebody they don’t know.
Every child should know there is one person in their school they can talk to if they have any of these problems. It may be the principle, a school nurse, or guidance counselor.
If a case of abuse is reported by a child do NOT give the child any reason to think you do NOT believe the report. Children RARELY make these stories up. They are embarrassed and afraid. Listen! Be gentle and soft spoken. Ask lead questions to get more information. Do NOT confront the accused. Report the incident to the police and let them talk to the child and the accused. You tell ONLY those who have a right to know about he alleged happening. Do NOT let anybody talk you out of reporting it to the police. This must be done as soon as possible.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Former Licensed Private Investigator under the laws of The Province of Ontario, Canada.
Sorry, I realize these things have already been said. But let’s
try to implement then.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
How you al mean it does not mater to raise the age of consent!! Ofcourse it matters!
Our little girls are being abused on a daily basis and still we stand here and say it does not matter? How sick can you all be?
Again it is all about education of the masses.
Since when Skeritt needs the Parlament to pass a motion? Double standard P.M.
I really do not understand the people who are resisting the need to increase the age of sexual consent in Dominica.
Just the idea will send a message to the abusers that Gov’t is doing something to tackle this injustice.
It may not be effective during our lifetime but we have to look out for our kids.
Ms. Cuffy-Weeks I support you in all your efforts and you are one of the few Good Dominicans who put Dominicans before self.
God-Bless!
The children will continue to be sexually abuse because the judge don’t want the names of the abusers be published but the name of the woman accused of killing her husband cud be published with full name, age and address? Wat a corrupted piece a island.
Mrs Cuffy-Weekes, I admire your desire to help solve the problem of abuse of children. But how in the world is increasing the age from 16 to 18 going to help children. Focus on the problems of actual children. This fight u want to fight is a revocation of the right of 16 and 17 year-olds to make the decision of having consented sexual intercourse. There are not many people who start having sex at 18, i had sex at 16 and i was not raped If the age of consent was 18 then my then boyfriend who was 18 would not have been the doctor he is today, he would have been a convict because according to you, he raped me. I am sure scores of people sex stories are not far from this. Are you trying to have all young men thrown in prison for statutory rape? These 16 and 17 year olds having their sex, living their life has absolutley nothing to do with booso lavie raping children. Is the child abuse peoblem happening between 16 and 17? You are wasting your time and the cabinet is not going to waste the nation time discussing this nonsense.
Now what did I read about your target of 50 000 signatures? So you were expecting to get 80% of the population to sign this? UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!
Finally, someone who makes sense. It seems Mrs. Weekes is indeed trying to get rid of the male race.
Your way of thinking is … …
Responsible for young women losing respect for themselves, and losing the respect of others.
Contributing to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS.
Girls dropping out of school. An education lost is often a career missed. A career missed is often a life wasted. A life wasted often impacts the next generation even when it is not realized.
Single mothers struggling alone to raise a child.
Boys and girls without a father.
Single mothers left vulnerable to men who consider them an easy mark for sex including move-in boyfriends who stand in the way of her dating a serious minded young man and getting married, and who may eventually molest her child.
Sex is a precious gift from God. So much so God has put a hedge around it. It has an influence on every department of our lives. Sex belongs in marriage. Outside marriage it is a fire that can destroy.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill., D.D. International Evangelist.
Raising the age of consent, castration, stricter laws…all these are just branches on a diseased tree whose roots lie in the simple fact tht Dominicans on a whole are just too hypocritical. If we really wanna help these children and stop the abuse we need to stop waiting around for others to do something and act wen we have the chance. How many of us kno of a situation of rape or incest, how many times do we see under aged kids in sexual relationships and say nothing? Somebody else always knows besides the victim and the abuser, and as long as Dominicans on a whole keep silent, dey can raise de age of consent to 25 and it will not make a difference.
If, however, we were to be honest and up front abt stopping wrongdoing then we wld create a dangerous environment for the abuser and they wld really think twice, or not at all before acting.
How Long? Not Long.
Raising the age to 18 will not benefit them or society, especially ours which already is having difficulty dealing with abuse of younger children. In some states in the US it is less than 18, and many European countries even lower. At 16 most people are well aware of their own bodies. She needs to concentrate on helping those pre and peri pubescent children who are abused.
ask reggie for help
Fool.every ting politics
Personally, I dont see how raising the age of consent is going to correct the problem of child abuse.
What really needs readjustment is the current law which holds that a parent must take the matter to court on behalf of the child victim otherwise the matter is dropped.
Parents who take bribes in exchange for keeping the matter out of court should be dealt with.
The name and picture of repeated sex offenders should be published!!
Stricter punitive measure should also be implemented! These areas need to be looked at and not necessarily increase the age of consent.
All these thing are important.
Yes, they are “really” needed.
So work at getting them. But it should not be a matter of either or. It should be both.
Start by raising the age of consent. Provide a law that is
broader and more inclusive. It gives the police and the courts a better tool to work with. It enables them to bring more of the bad guys in.
I have seen so many cases here in Canada when something wrong and harmful has been done. Generally speaking most people knew it should not have been allowed and they wondered where the law was. But the police have said “We can’t do anything. There is nothing to charge them with. They broke no law.”
Sincerely, Rev, Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Mrs. Cuffy-Weekes thank you for the valiant fight on behalf of our children. You and Mr. Francis Joseph are our heroes and will NEVER be forgotten.
Just an FYI that based on informed sources within cabinet, the PM has NEVER tabled this for discussion or consideration. Granted, that may not solve the many problems associated with child abuse but at least he can be honest with the child advocates like you. Ignore the lies and pretense and increase the pressure on them for our children are this Nation’ future. But Change is a MUST….
“I AM FOR CHANGE: ARE U?”
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
It is encouraging to see people standing up and speaking out for righteousness.
I wish we had more of that in Canada.
We need change. It must begin at the grass roots.
Who can bring change? Common people. The citizens. The tax payers. The voters. People who will write a letter to a politician. People who will sign a petition. People who call a government office to ask why, why, why, the age of consent petition has been ignored, and keep calling until they find out what is being done with it.
Who can bring change?
Those who will take time to find out where their political candidates stand on the moral issues of he day and vote for the ones who will do what is right in the sight of God and best for the nation.
I was a child in school when I learned that a democracy is “the government of the people, by the people, for the people”.
Many years ago I heard Roman Catholic Bishop Fulton Sheen
say on television “It is better to light one little candle than to curse the darkness.”
Light our candle
Let them know the people have spoken!
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
What is ‘righteous’ about the age of consent? And stop calling you self Reverend. Only God is to be revered, hence His name only is Holy and Reverend. Call yourself, pastor, elder, bishop, disciple, apostle. All those are allowed by the Bible.
While we’re at it, please raise the age at which children are allowed to write the common entrance exam or enter university. In some areas, we want them to grow up and in others, we want them to remain children. Let the children enjoy their childhood and don’t burden them with high school and university too early. They can’t be in University at 16 and still not be adults.
A 17-year-old can write an essay on consent or even a thesis, but cannot consent?
As can a 10 year old. You are missing the point.
Actually, there IS a difference
It is men who want the age of consent not to be raised so they won’t risk being charged with statuary rape. Some want it eliminated entirely.
There was a political party in Holland that wanted the age of consent eliminated. The party was dissolved before they accomplished their their goals. Members of the former party are still working through different avenues to have the age of consent eliminated.
Many pedophiles want the age of consent either lowered or eliminated. It is homosexual pedophiles who are the most aggressive and are providing most of the energy for this.
In the USA there is a large homosexual organization devoted to this cause. One month they put out a special issue promoting the joys of what they call “man – boy sex”. One such organization had as their motto “Sex by Eight or it is Too Late.” I expect they still use this motto unless the law has forced them to drop it.
However, heterosexuals are not exempt from this nastiness.
There are a shocking number of men in their early 20’s, and much older who have “girlfriends” between 13 and 17. The girls talk about receiving money and “nice things” from them along with promises to pay for their education. Most shameful of all is the fact that the older men usually have wives and families.
Those who find an age of consent law too restrictive and want it either lowered or eliminated are organized to lobby
governments. It is important that better informed and more principled citizens organize and make an effort to counter them.
Having the age of consent raised is a good place to start.
Getting the public aboard to report violations is important.
Then this will only be effective if there is strong law enforcement supported by the judges in the courts. It is appropriate to let he police and judges know you appreciate it when they do their jobs. When they don’t it is O.K. to let them and the public know you deserve better!
There are bright spots in history when one woman stood up alone against an evil or injustice and won a victory for what was right. Today history honors them and the world knows their names.
Delia Cuffy-Weeks I want to assure you that your cause is worth the effort. Keep writing letters, doing petitions, and making phone calls. Don’t be afraid to repeat your self. Present your case again and again. Election time is coming. Find out where your candidates stand on the age of consent. Get it out in the open and make it an issue.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill, D.D. International Evangelist.
What point am I missing, Anonymous? Show me the essay of a 10-year-old on the subject of Consent. I content that a 10-year-old cannot do that! It is an adult subject and can only be dealt with by an adult mind. A 17-year-old University student can write a term paper and has an adult mind. He is not a child. I have no personal interest in the age of consent, except to say that the age limit for attending high school and university must also be raised and let the children be children.
Raising the age of consent from 16 to 18 wont solve much if the system isn’t capable of discipling the perpetrators. Sadly, the crisis that we now face is due to a lack of severe punishment for people who commits acts of abuse against children. I think we should head towards castrating rapist and paedophiles – as history has shown that they always re-offend and have laws in place to punish the people who cover-up. The welfare system should also be forced to look back at cases that were unsolved or swept under the rug.
This is absolutely true.
Joe and Bruce were judges in New York. They were called
Let them go Joe
and
Cut them loose Bruce.
In Canada we refer to their kind as bleeding heart judges.
A few years ago a policemen’s wife told me how discouraging it was when a cop would lay his life on the line to bring a criminal to justice only to have a judge wrap their knuckles and turn them back into society to offend again.
There needs to be an all around overhaul of the system in my own country (Canada) and elsewhere.
(1) Begin with getting good laws on the books that are inclusive enough to being in the bad guys. I commend those who are doing this including Delia Cuffy-Weeks.
(2) Brief the police to do their jobs and stop turning a blind eye.
(3) Review the judicial performance of judges who are reputed to be too soft on criminals. There must be a provision in the system to appeal questionable sentencing.
It is time for all those who care for the children and young women of the nation to start making a noise. Don’t let your politicians think they can continue living on he public purse and ignore something this important. Not to answer a letter or respond to a petition is downright rude.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.