Dominica Prime Minister: ‘We will never accept same-sex marriage’
The prime minister of the tiny island nation of Dominica in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea has stated unequivocally that his country rejects the notion of same-sex "marriage."
"I will make it clear that there are some things that this Government will not accept and we will never allow for the state to recognise same-sex marriage in our country. If other countries want to do it, that's a matter for them but there are certain guiding principles that we must follow," said Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit according to theJamaica Observer.
The PM's statement was in response to a homosexual activist group's demand that the government re-examine the country's law against sodomy as stated in the Sexual Offence Act of Dominica.
Minority Rights Dominica (MiriDom) claimed the law "discriminates against people because of their sexual preferences.
"We are just asking that everybody be treated equally," the group reportedly said.
However, Prime Minister Skerrit said that, while the law against sodomy will remain on the books, rumours of arrests of people privately engaging in homosexual activity are unfounded.
"This has never happened in Dominica and I don't think that will be happening any time now or later," he said.
Skerrit told the Observer that while he is willing to meet with the group to discuss their concerns, "I don't think any one group should impose any views on any other group."
Prime Minister Skerrit has consistently supported the Christian definition of the family and strongly encouraged men to take responsibility for their children.
At a graduation ceremony at Dominica State College earlier this year, where most of the graduates of a hospitality and culinary arts training course were single mothers, Skerrit called on Dominican fathers to take up their responsibility and care for their children.
“You cannot leave it to these women alone to take care of the children; you cannot come and say you love [her] and you have children with [her] and just turn your back.
"The children need the financial and emotional support of the fathers as well. It is a shame to any man in the world, Dominica included, where a mother has to take the father of her child to court to give her something for this child every week, every month. You cannot do that,” Prime Minister Skerrit said according to a government news release.
Contact:
Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit
6th Floor, Financial Center
Kennedy Avenue
Roseau, Dominica
Phone: +1.767.266.3755
Fax: +1.767.448.8960
Kennedy Avenue
Roseau, Dominica
Phone: +1.767.266.3755
Fax: +1.767.448.8960
Email: via website contact form (http://www.opm.gov.dm/?page_id=48)
