Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 05, 2010 News
The Ministry of Health is opposed to any movement that seeks to convert purported heterosexual individuals to lesbianism or homosexuality. In fact, such matters will be referred to the police if health officials are found to be the ones encouraging such activities, said Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy who revealed that investigations have been engaged in this regard.
However, the Minister has asserted that persons with certain sexual orientation ought to be guaranteed fundamental human rights within the public health sector. “That is different from occupying space that promote and celebrate a certain lifestyle…sexual orientation must be a private thing and we are not supportive of any movement that seeks to promote sexual orientation changes other than the normal way of life.” The Minister’s remarks were forthcoming in response to disclosures that strategic efforts are being made by a certain group to persuade members of the young population to change from their heterosexual orientation. “But that in no way means that I am against providing people who have chosen that lifestyle…but in terms of celebrating it in terms of trying to convert people into that lifestyle we will oppose to that.”
According to the Minister, the Ministry has heard stories of persons who are going out and trying to promote such lifestyles. “I don’t have hard evidence of that but we have heard these stories and people ought to know that when you try to force people into such lifestyles it is covered in the Sexual Offences Act…”
In particular, the Minister said that there have been stories of events that are taking place with young boys and even girls, a state of affairs which is now covered by the Act. As such, he revealed that when such matters come to the attention of the Ministry they will without hesitation be referred to the police.
“While I can’t stand here and say that I have evidence that people are doing that, we have heard these stories and they are of interest to us so that we are taking them seriously and are investigating….I think this is a dangerous thing and it should not be allowed.”
The Minister further warned that while the Ministry offers various professional training to the members of the public it is yet vigilant to ensure that persons are not discriminated against. However, persons who are trained cannot utilise their capacity to promote a particular lifestyle. “We are health care providers and that is what we are suppose to do and not use our position to promote a mode of sexual lifestyles that is against everything that we teach…that mode of sexual lifestyle is against everything that we teach.” And should any health care provider be found guilty of engaging in such activities their service will be certainly terminated, the Minister confidently asserted. “I can say really, really to every health care provider that any such allegation we will investigate. We are not going to take chances….”
And there have been instances when the Ministry was forced to take action against persons who were inclined to engage in such activities, according to the Minister. “It hasn’t occurred recently but we have indeed dismissed somebody form the Ministry of Health…We have terminated that person because we had evidence that that person was utilising his position in the Ministry to promote a lifestyle of same sex relationships.” In terminating that person the Minister noted that the Ministry had not impinged on the employee’s right to live a life of same sex relations. “What was not fine was the fact that he was using his position to influence other people towards that lifestyle,” the Minister added.
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