FORMER MINISTER OF HEALTH Branford Taitt wants to see Government implement the majority of the recommendations offered by a controversial AIDS report prepared by Professor E. R. "Mickey" Walrond.

"I have grave difficulty understanding why the Government, which up until recently had appeared to me to show an enlightened approach to the management of HIV/AIDS in our community, should have any problem with the majority of the recommendations to be found in Professor Walrond's report," Taitt said.

He was addressing an HIV/AIDS education and counselling graduating class at the Christ Church Parish Church Centre last week.

Walrond has come under fire from some quarters, including the church, for the report that recommends, among other things, decriminalisation of prostitution, homosexuality and the issuing of condoms to prisoners.

Recently, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Reverend Joseph Atherley, said Government was unlikely to go against an HIV/AIDS Commission finding, suggesting that Barbadians did not favour such moves.

Walrond hit back, saying that Government would rather see HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination continue, than risk losing a block of voters who oppose decriminalisation of homosexuality and prostitution.

Taitt, Minister of Health in the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administration from 1987 to 1993, told the gathering – including Anglican Bishop Reve1rend John Holder – that the Walrond report "in my humble view was carefully and thoughtfully written".

He told the 16 women graduating from the two-month course: " . . . Your training will be incomplete without a reading of that report."

Taitt spoke briefly about the 70-page report on The Legal, Ethical And Socio-economic Impact Of HIV/AIDS In Barbados, saying he would "await the Government's official response to the report before I make any further public comment".

Taitt also said he wanted to see more members of the clergy benefit from HIV/AIDS training courses, while Bishop Holder urged the 16 women to do their best to help Barbados control the spread of HIV/AIDS.