DNO POLL RESULT: Raise the age of consent

Result of the poll

The majority of readers who participated in an online DNO poll are of the view that the age of consent should be raised in Dominica.

The age of consent has been a topic of much discussion recently after an explicit video involving underage girls surfaced on the internet.

Currently 16 is the age of consent on the island but a concerned citizen has started a petition to have it raised to 18.

DNO sought the opinion of readers in a poll asking, “Should the age of consent be raised in Dominica?”

1,515 readers participated in the poll.

825 readers (54 percent) voted ‘Yes.’

452 readers or 32 percent voted ‘It won’t make a difference’.

238 or 16 percent voted ‘No.’

DNO’s poll is not a scientific poll.

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33 Comments

  1. January 24, 2013

    what difference does it make in schools even the principal;s and teachers are sexually harrassing the underage children.

  2. hallie berrie
    January 24, 2013

    Instead of raising the age of consent, we should use one period a week in schools for sex education. they need to educate on sex, teenage pregnancy and peer pressure.

    raising the age of consent is not going to solve the problem, it just going to increase the list of unlawful sexual intercourse and sexual assault for the criminal assizes. giving the government to spend more money on preparing cases and trials that usually ends down the drain.

    In allt hings, education is the key. where are the days when mummy and daddy use to sit down with their girls and talk about boys?

    parents dont talk with their kids anymore. we need to bring back family time. Real love begins at home.

  3. love dominica
    January 23, 2013

    tiny, i think you need GOD in your life. I forgive you for answering already, and whatever you would answer again. LORD have mercy.

  4. Grain Sel
    January 23, 2013

    It doesn’t really matter how you put this, we have already lost that battle, depending of your social status some men of this country might be able to pay their way out of this, watch and see,
    While others will be paying the price, due to their undisciplined emotions, and their soulish lust of the flesh, thinking that we might be able to get away with.
    FYI. If any of those kids dies, their final destination would be based on their freedom to choose right from wrong.
    Generally speaking a parent wants the best for their children, it may not be communicated in the best way, yet the message is passed. Often those girls’ thinks that their parent time passed, and they don’t want them to enjoy their youth, or maybe they are jealous of their physic (youthful ignorance)
    Because the majority of the time it’s really kids who messed up and now it’s their turn to walk in their parent’s shoes, they are trying really hard that their daughter doesn’t make the same mistakes like they did.
    Changing the age is not going to make a difference. I honestly believe that better education, and better organized campaigns of sensitization would yield better results regarding this issue.

  5. KNOWLEDGE
    January 23, 2013

    IT IS U WHO CHOOSE YOUR PATH ANY PERSON NO MATTER IF U LEAVE IN A NEGATIVE NEIGHBOR HOOD ITS YOUR MENTALITY, TALK ON THE BEHALF MY EXPERIENCE.

  6. notice
    January 23, 2013

    IT IS ALWAYS UP TO THE CHILD TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION SO I DONT SEE ANY REASON TO RAIS THE AGE.OUR BODY DON’T BELONG TO ANY BODY ULESS WE OFFER.IS THAT TRUE????????

  7. DOMINICAN
    January 23, 2013

    lowering or raising makes no difference what we need is the place to putdelinquent teenagers with home social problems. the school can identify such students even before their problems get out of hand and the necessary help be given from the appropriate instituion with trained persons. too many walls and fault. who look out for the children.

  8. 4progress
    January 22, 2013

    It is important to set up an organisation that children can seek advice/discuss in confidence. Ultimately any abuse has to be reported to the police by the victim, but the purpose of the organisation will be serve in some cases as a go-between when parents are incapable or disbelieve their child.

    In situation where abuse is happening it take a very brave child to make a complaint especially when a member of the family or relative is involved. The may not say anything they think they are at fault.

  9. Anonymous
    January 22, 2013

    My Take: Fine, so let’s say we go with the majority and raise the age of consent to 18 and the situation doesn’t change (which I doubt it will) and likely gets even worst because of our changing world, globalization and exposure to all can of filth out there as a result of improved technologies such as smartphones and the like. What next??? Do we keep on raising it.. say to 21, then 24?? What about the increasing numbers of students who leave the State College at 17 and are employed (many as teachers in high schools etc.???)Are we going to tell that individual that they are old enough to have an associates degree and make money, but too young to decide for themselves about their sexuality??? I say this whole debate is just a knee-jerk reaction to a situation which needs greater attention and must be addressed in a hollistic manner. We cannot allow hypocracy, poor parenting and other social ills which are contributing to this situation to be ignored and merely believe that raising the age of consent from 16-18 years is going to get rid of the problem!!

  10. truth
    January 22, 2013

    What about abstainance. Any teenager 13-19 should pay thre consequences. Punish them, give them a few hundred hours of community service and those who do get pregnant should be dealt with by law

  11. January 22, 2013

    sorry not scare but scar

  12. January 22, 2013

    it wont make a difference it is 16 now and my 11 yr old daughter was sexually abused by 22 yr old man and the police is yet to do anything about it and the guy is walking chest hight with no shame but every time i look at my daughter i see a big scare

    • hmmmm
      January 23, 2013

      I hear you – the police is not doing anything about it.

      But what are you doing? Do not stop with the police… use the radio, use the community do soemthing, LEGAL, that will get attention for you plight and help your daughter. You must first weigh the pros and cons of your actions..but it seemst aht you want some form of justice.

      Get a lwayer to go to the police station and make an issue about your complaint. Do something more…the cops don’t care and tend not to lsiten – make them not only listen, but acknowledge your plight

  13. mouth of the south
    January 22, 2013

    i voted for an increase, but that’s not enough… d.n.o can do it’s part by putting ‘pressure’ on the responsible authorities, as to why a case involving sex with a minor takes over 3 years to be solved. even when the man admitted to police that he did have sex with the underaged (b4 he lawyered up).

    why are children being asked to leave school to attend court sessions even after they have given their report to police and have even attended on one occasion.. is that an experience a 13,14,15 year old should be experiencing? (in n out of court) smh….

    why don’t they enforce the laws and post photos of convicted child molesters???? so many questions to ask.. but aylass poor pity dominique and no one want to fight the injustice…

  14. Confused Reader
    January 22, 2013

    What the law says is not the problem. ENFORCING LAWS on a whole is the problem in Dominica everywhere you look.

  15. concerned
    January 22, 2013

    It shows that we care about our childrens.this is the voice of many concern mothers,fathers,sisters,brothers, aunt etc.

    • tiny
      January 22, 2013

      if you cared about your children then you will seek help on better parenting skills and not look for laws that will put men in jail when your daughters willingly spread their legs

  16. Agatha
    January 22, 2013

    As I was saying, Tiny, before the system decided to cut me off because it claims I had said before what I had not yet said. Anyway, girl or lady Tiny, consider this:
    1. The adult perpetrators who abuse these underaged youngster (i.e. anyone under the age of 18) will be ccountable to the law.
    2. Having the law on their side will help parents and guardians control these youngster a bit longer for their own good.
    3. Well meaning youngsters will know that they need to give themselves some more time before they go using their bodies at a time and in a way that potentially brings heartaches to all concerned.

    Whether or not there are those who will do what they want when they want is not really the point here. The point is developing a tool to give them second thoughts until they reach the ge of 18 so that some of them will be saved from their own folly..

    Every youth that is saved from making the mistake of bringing children into the world that they are not prepared to care for is a blessing.

    Every youth that is saved from contracting std’s is blessing.

    Every youth that is saved from being ravaged in a lineup is a blessing.

    Every youth that is protected from the predatory cameraman is a blessing.

    Every youth that has recourse to the law when they are molested or raped is a blessing.

    If you think raising the age of Consent to 18 years is a waste of time, then I will remind you that it is best for us to err on the side caution than on the side of carelessness.

    I think you will agree, Tiny, that developing minds sometimes need protection from themselves.

    • tiny
      January 22, 2013

      stop your rubbish and crap…no law can prevent that? developing a good relationship with your kids, disciplining your kids in the right manner, setting age appropriate boundaries, educating your kids and spending quality time with your kids is the only solution

      trying to control your child’s life and being too strict or negligent or screaming after your kids ant talking at your kids and beating them is not parenting…it is abuse

      expect that they will disobey because they are imperfect human being just like you

    • Fouchette
      January 22, 2013

      It appears to me that the point most people who voted against are saying is that it really makes no difference, in light of the fact that these teenagers who recently participated in this video were not even yet sixteen years old (our present age of consent). So if you raise it to 25yrs the 14 & 15 yr old girls will still be doing the same thing.

    • hmmgbrd
      January 22, 2013

      The point is not about changing the law, it’s about enforcing it. This change that some deluded people are pleading for is just a distraction from the real issue. THE LAWS ARE NOT BEING ENFORCED. When even policemen partake in these activities can you expect anything better? They could change the age of consent to 21 and it would not make a difference. Children are having sex as young as 10 and 11 maybe even younger. As a yout man in dominica if you haven’t had sex at secondary school age you are labeled a faggot. Tell me where did that mentality come from and how will changing a law that is not being enforced in the first place going to change that.

    • January 22, 2013

      I applaud that post. When my children was molested I contacted the authorities. Raising the age of consent to 18 years of age has its advantages and disadvantages. I say at 18 a teenager, young adult so to speak, has a better understanding of his or her surroundings, more knowledgeable of the difference from right and wrong, and can make better decisions for themselves. Our children do need the law on their side. Yes, they will do whatever they want whenever they want, but until they become that age, 18, the law can step in and assist them and their families against those that take advantage and abuse them.

  17. love dominica
    January 22, 2013

    they are not asking to change children who are sexualy active at 16,but that, they cannot say yes to sex at 16.But 18. SO she cannat answer i wanted to have sex with him in a court. If am not mistakeing thats what i understant.

    • tiny
      January 22, 2013

      again stop your crap..a 16 year old is not a baby…what is the big difference between 16 and 18?…..

  18. tiny
    January 22, 2013

    so i guess your 16 year old has the mind of a 3 year old…..like i said over and over again…i was abused by my parents. vulnerable, easily manipulated, had low self esteem very immature..

    i was the poster child for a an at risk teenager…and i never had sex at 16 and i had many older men including teachers hitting on me….i never had sex as a minor because i know i was not supposed to have sex…my parents could not prevent me from having sex….i made the decision not to have sex…

  19. tiny
    January 22, 2013

    a commenter on here stated that her parent were good parents but she was sexually abused by their friend for year…. well if she had good parents she would have told them about the abuse for the first time it happened…

    they should have spoken to her about bad touches and informed her to let her know if anyone touches her in any bad way even if the person threatens her…
    b

    become better parents if your want to see crime reduced..become better parents if you want your kids to live a moral lifestyle….till then no rule is going to change anything

    • January 22, 2013

      A person that was sexually abused by her parent’s friend, their own parent, or any other person for any length of time is not the result of not having good parents. There are several reasons children that are sexually abused do not speak out about the abuse. In my opinion, the primary reasons are “threats” and “fear”. In our minds they would have told or should have told anyone of the abuse the first time it happened, but we have no idea what that child is going through causing them not to tell.

      I think it does not matter how many times or how often parents talk to their children about inappropriate behavior. When a person is threatened that person has no way of knowing if the perpetrator will not carry on that threat, therefore, the victim has to be very careful, and that can take a very long time to be free of the abuser and to come forward. ‘NO, I WAS NOT MOLESTED.’

      I think you should SHUT UP about becoming better parents if people want to see crime reduced. What does parenting has to do with crime. I know people that had the best upbringing and they commit crimes, and there are people that their parents were not even around, they practically raise themselves and they a living a crime-free life. You must have had a damn, sorry upbringing for you to be blaming parents for their children’s misfortune.

  20. Agatha
    January 22, 2013

    Dont be silly Tiny.
    1.

  21. tiny
    January 22, 2013

    the majority are fools….nothing is going to change….your kids are still going to be sexually active at an early age…some things should not be decided by the majority vote….if so black people would still be enslaved in America

    • tiny
      January 22, 2013

      and the majority asked for Jesus to be crucified and Pilate washed his hands……

      • Anonymous
        January 22, 2013

        A study came to light in America that when the playstation game black ops was all the rage -there was a significant decrease in teenage pregancy rates. It has a lot to do with keeping children occupied.

    • 4progress
      January 22, 2013

      @Tiny……Sometimes obtaining what want does take time, require patience and baby steps. Every positive action taken has got to be seen as progress. This is small step.

      Priority however really should be given to information gathering and enforcement. I live in hope.

  22. wannaknow
    January 22, 2013

    it wont make a difference

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